Mockingjay: Broken Wings

by Jamie Sommers

A/U Katniss and Peeta are married, expecting a baby. Peeta's unsure of Katniss after the things he's seen while being held prisoner. Is she still trustworthy? With a traitor in the rebellion who can Katniss turn to? Haymitch, after all the secrets he's kept? Gale, who's loyalty lies with President Coin? Or will Peeta open up his heart to her again? Sequel to CF: Rekindling

13. Promises Kept

Mockingjay: Broken Wings

By: Jamie Sommers

Chapter Twelve: Promises Kept

Previously, Effie shot Mr. Tanner so Peeta could escape, then was taken prisoner by Snow. Peeta's hijacking has had some lasting effects, and now he's got to come to grips with his actions since being in Thirteen.

Sorry it took so long to get out, but I caught the flu and was in bed for a week. To those of you out there that are sick, and I know there are plenty of you, eat soup! Drink liquids! Have jello, and get better soon.

Those of you that are Outtakes fans (rated M for adult content) the first chapter of MJ: BWO has been posted and chapter two will be out tomorrow or the day after. Please be 18 or older if you want to read that. They are intimate moments of K/P's lives that go hand in hand with the series.

Thanks to all of you that wait...read...review, and anticipate. I am humbled by your kind words. Thanks to S and A for their hard work and the double beta job. And thanks to my scout who inspired many of Steven Tanner's qualities. This one's for you baby.

If you want to know what's happening with the stories or anything else that I've been working on, please follow me on tumblr at jamiesommers23 dot tumblr dot com.

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Mockingjay: Broken Wings

Watching Dr. Valero give Peeta a shot in the arm, and seeing him fall instantaneously into a world of unconsciousness brought on even more tears. Katniss stood on the steps of Thirteen's Justice Building, arms clinging to herself, wishing they were Peeta's providing her with a sense of security instead. Many tried to calm her down, unlike Peeta and Finnick, she had to face the tragedy of her life without the aid of drugs, but no one could snap her back to reality. Words of common sense were spoken to her by her mother, Prim, Regina...Gale, but Katniss wanted nothing to do with them. No one could understand what she was going through. No one knew what it was like to have the person you loved more than life itself, taken from you. Even Regina and Justus, who had gone through their own personal hell at the hands of Snow, couldn't relate to her situation. They still had one another. They were married, and looking forward to the arrival of their little boy, Adam, but Katniss dreaded the thought of giving birth. She loved the baby, but what she didn't love was how much the child would lose out on. If given a choice, she'd choose Peeta as the parent, not herself. Love was not something she knew how to express very easily. It had taken Peeta years to worm his way into her heart, and Gale, who had always been there for her, who showed her love in his own way, was never able to reach that part of her. The only person she had ever loved openly, other than Peeta, was Prim, but this wasn't something Prim could relate to, nor would Katniss want to subject her sister to this form of hell. It wasn't until Haymitch's arrival, coming back from God knows where he disappeared to, that Katniss allowed herself to crumble into his arms. She had never had a very close relationship with her mentor, she loved him, he was part of her family now, but opening up to him...sharing with him, was very rare. In fact the only time she ever recalled allowing him a glimpse into the recesses of her heart was when he came to her quarters asking her...her for advice on how to live without Effie. Her mentor's arms weren't as strong as Peeta's even in his weakened state. They didn't bring with them the feeling of safety, but they did hold understanding, for he was the only person, other than Peeta and Finnick, who could relate to what she was going through. Losing the one you loved...the one person that you let yourself open up to, that you willingly gave your soul to, then having that person ripped from you by President Snow, was not something she wished on anyone, yet she was momentarily grateful there was someone near who had experienced her same pain.

"Come on sweetheart," Haymitch held his arm around Katniss' shoulders, "let's go to the hospital where they took Peeta."

"He doesn't want to see me," she sniffed out, running her fingers under her nose.

"He's knocked out cold. He won't even know you're there." Haymitch led her to the medical center where Peeta was changed into a hospital gown, and put in bed. "Finnick's behind that curtain," Haymitch gestured with his chin across the room to another section where her former ally lay in a drug induced sleep. "They've got a bed here for you too. Doc wants to check you out first though, okay?"

Katniss stared at Peeta's sleeping form, wanting desperately to climb in bed with him and let herself drift into a peaceful slumber as she had before. Since leaving the first arena, laying with him was the only way she could sleep peacefully, but even those nights were few and far between. "I don't want to be in this room if Plutarch's cameras are in here," Katniss glared around the room for hidden devices.

"They're not in here. I made sure you were put in a different room." Haymitch led her to the edge of the waiting hospital bed. "You go ahead and change into that gown there," he pointed to the thin cotton garment that matched the ones Peeta and Finnick were wearing. "I'm going to send in the doc so she can check you out, then I want you to try and get some rest," he said as he pulled the curtain closed to give her some privacy.

"Easier said than done," Katniss mumbled as she sat down and began removing her mockingjay uniform, running her fingers over the pin that had found a permanent home there now.

Regina gave her a full examination, drawing blood, checking her vital signs, and using one of Thirteen's fetal monitoring systems to listen to the baby's heart rate, the worried frown went unnoticed by her patient, then the physician tucked Katniss into bed as though she were the baby herself, before asking her a series of questions. "How much of your rations have you been eating lately?"

"Enough," Katniss' one word answers were all she could manage to get out.

"And how much have you been drinking?" Regina prepared to place a tube in Katniss' arm to provide her with fluids.

With a shrug of a shoulder, Katniss answered, "Enough." The cups of tea her mother provided her with prior to each meal was about all she had been able to stomach since the night she watched the broadcast and Peeta cut her out of his life.

"What about sleep, Katniss?" Regina was growing frustrated. "Been getting...enough of that as well?"

An angry set of gray eyes slanted in the dim hospital room towards the doctor. "Yeah," she said with a chill in her voice.

Dr. Valero avoided pleasantries while inserting the IV into Katniss' vein. "Lack of appetite, high blood pressure, partially dehydrated, exhaustion...the baby's heart rate dropping," that seemed to get Katniss' attention. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to lose this baby." Dr. Valero adjusted something on the machine that held the bag of fluids that would provide liquid nourishment to Katniss' dehydrated body. "Go to sleep, or maybe I'll help you out in the process and give you something to knock you out. It might hurt the baby...it might not," the doctor spoke to her in a nonchalant tone. "I'll check on you in a few hours."

Katniss stared at her as she walked away realizing that her new friend Regina hadn't been in the room with her at all, but Dr. Valero, who was clearly lecturing Katniss, in not so many words, that her parenting skills left much to be desired. She flopped onto the flat of her back, the arm without the tube in it, thrown over her eyes as though doing so would block out the terrible images that flashed behind her closed lids. "Sleep?" She whispered to herself, rolling over, facing the flimsy material used to separate her from Peeta. There was no need for drugs. No need to put foreign chemicals into her bloodstream. There was only one thing she needed to fall asleep, and he was a few feet away, laying behind a curtain.

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Something sharp pierced his arm and within seconds Peeta drifted into darkness. Nightmares plagued him yet no matter how hard he tried to wake from the disturbing images his eyes wouldn't open. Horrific sounds of Johanna screaming as she was being dunked into a tub of ice cold water haunted him. Peeta could see himself curled up on the floor of the jail cell, his hands covering his ears, his lips moving, talking to someone that wasn't there, the picture of insanity. Moving his lips, having a conversation with an invisible stranger was the only thing that kept him from going crazy. The sounds of Johanna's screams had vanished replaced with one of Katniss whimpering in her sleep. Peeta's eyes flew open, darting around the dark hospital room, he had no idea how long he had been out. A feathery sensation tickled him just below his nose, and he blew the few loose hairs away wondering where they had come from. Something, 'No,' he corrected himself, 'someone,' warm was curled up against his side with her leg thrown over his, her head resting against his chest and her fingers, clutching onto his hospital gown. It took a few minutes for him to determine if this was really happening, or if he went from a nightmare to a dream in the span of seconds. A feeling of wetness seeped through the dressing gown he was wearing, Katniss began scrambling against him, trying to crawl up his body like she was running away from something. "Real," he whispered to himself. His first instinct was to wake her and kick her out of his room for fear of suddenly snapping and killing her, his second was to sneak out of there without disturbing her, but it was his third, natural instinct he went with. "Shh," he stroked the back of her head, whispering soft words to her, "it's a nightmare. It's only a dream. You're safe now. I've got you." Her breathing slowed down, her hands gradually flattened against his chest, and the tiny cries for help he was sure she was trying to get out, turned into a sigh as the nightmare dissipated into an unknown abyss. By all rights he should have left that very second, but the fact was, he needed to feel her as much as she needed him. He closed his eyes trying to decide whether or not he should wake her, going through several options in his head. He had heard what the doctors said about the reason for his explosions, and why Gale got the brunt of it, but he didn't believe for a second that Katniss was out of the woods and safe from his dangerously hostile bouts of violence.

"How are you feeling?" His father walked slowly up to Peeta after waking from the blow he got on the back of his head during his fight with Gale.

"Da...dad?" Peeta's voice was full of confusion. Things were still so hazy, and trying to decipher if he was awake or not was too difficult to figure out on his own. "Is that you?"

Bing reached out to his son, "It's me, Peeta."

"Where's mom?" Peeta asked as he rested his head against the pillow.

"Don't you remember, Peeta? She didn't make it," his father said with remorse in his voice.

Peeta sucked in a breath then he saw her. "Mom!"

Evelyn and Prim stood at the doorway hesitating to enter the room. "Hi," Evelyn gave him a small smile.

"Dad said you..." Peeta turned to his father, "...she's real, right? She's there?"

"Of course she is," his dad answered.

"Then why did you say mom died?" The expression on his father's face told him what he needed to know. His real mother was dead. "Oh," Peeta gulped. "She died. That's Katniss' mom."

"May we come in?" Evelyn asked from her spot next to the door.

"Yeah." Peeta peered around the room, "Where's Whytte...Miche?"

His father's face drooped, "I'm sorry, son. They...they're gone too."

It took a minute for it to register. Peeta's brothers...his real mother, were dead, and his father saved... "You told me already didn't you? You rescued Katniss' family during the firebombs?"

Bing held his chin up a little and faced Peeta. "Yes," he answered.

"I...I asked you to, right?" Peeta knew it was true. The only way his father would've abandoned his brothers was to help the one son that required it his whole life long. "You saved them for me?"

"I saved them because it was the right thing to do," Bing answered.

"I'm sorry, pops," Peeta felt like there was a two ton weight sitting in the middle of his chest. Like he had personally murdered his brothers.

"Nothing to be sorry for. The Capitol is responsible for the bombing of Twelve...not you. Not Katniss."

"Peeta," Prim was standing within reaching distance with a tray full of medical supplies. "I need to treat your head, make sure it's not bleeding or anything."

"Oh, sure," he sat upright and ducked his head down, shame written all over his face for the way he had treated Katniss. It didn't matter who Katniss was, the fact that he couldn't remember his love for her, or what she may or may not have done, the way he acted was beyond reproach. Pangs of guilt assaulted his senses when he thought of accidentally hitting her. All he wanted to do was forget it ever happened, but the throbbing pain in the back of his head was more than enough to remind him what had happened when he overheard the conversation between Katniss and Gale.

"We'll need to discuss Peeta's medical condition," Dr. Valero stepped towards the family. "I'll get Beetee, and we'll let you know what options we have."

The sight of his former ally, entering the hospital room brought a smile to Peeta's lips. "Beetee, you look like hell."

"So do you, Peeta," the man stuck his hand out and shook it with gusto. "But I believe we should be able to remedy that situation," Beetee said encouragingly.

"Katniss?" Peeta asked wondering why she wasn't there, then realized she probably didn't want a thing to do with him. 'Her not being in the room is probably a good thing,' he thought to himself.

"We thought it best that she stay out of the room for now," Dr. Valero answered.

"First, let me take a moment to say, thank goodness for Effie Trinket's resourcefulness. Had she not gotten Peeta out of Snow's grasp, he would either be dead by now or have had his memory completely wiped out, and turned into a weapon against Katniss and the rebellion. So let's try and look at the bright side as we discuss Peeta's condition." Peeta had a feeling Beetee's words were the prelude to some pretty devastating news. "As you can see there are several canisters on the counter containing various chemical compounds. One," Beetee pointed to it, "is tracker jacker venom created to be administered into a person's blood stream. According to Effie, you have had doses of this Peeta, and during such times the Capitol took memories of your life and altered them. When they filled you with false information regarding Katniss...showed you the recordings, they were working towards their goal."

"What goal?" Bing asked.

"That Peeta would develop a hatred for Katniss. They started a process better known as hijacking. They tried to replace Peeta's good memories with his worst nightmares." Beetee took a moment to explain the situation as he had to Katniss before he entered the room. "Your recall is made difficult because memories haven't simply been changed, but distorted into horrific images." He tapped at his forehead, "They're brought to the forefront of your mind, altered, and saved again in the revised form." The look of confusion on Peeta's face had Beetee going further into detail, "Peeta, do you have any good memories of Katniss?"

Their greeting in the tunnel popped into his mind. "Yeah."

"Would you mind sharing with us?" Beetee asked.

"Um..." he blushed slightly, "She kissed me when I saw her in the tunnel."

"Perfect," Beetee strolled to the center of the room and began his explanation. "Imagine kissing Katniss in the tunnel," he turned to Peeta. "I'll assume that's a very pleasant memory for you, but now I want you to imagine that I gave you a dose of tracker jacker venom, not enough to induce a three day blackout, but enough to infuse you with doubt...fear, then told you that Katniss didn't kiss you in the tunnel, but made an attempt on your life...instead of running into your arms with joy, she ran to you and tried to choke you...kill you. Now, your happy memory of Katniss coming up on you in the tunnel will be doctored. In its place is the memory of Katniss trying to execute you, and that is what would be stored in your permanent memory bank."

"So that's what they did? Took his memories of Katniss and distorted them so he's...scared of her?" Prim questioned.

"That's what they attempted to do, yes," Beetee nodded.

"But they didn't succeed," Dr. Valero added.

"Because Effie switched out the drug," it was more of a statement that came from Peeta instead of a question.

"Exactly. The jacker juice is much weaker than the actual venom," Beetee told them.

"So how do we reverse this?" Prim tapped the tip of her foot on the floor waiting for an answer.

Beetee exchanged a look with Dr. Valero before saying, "There is very little information on hijacking, but what we do know is…once the damage is done...it's permanent."

Peeta gripped the edge of his bed. "So...I'll never remember...anything ever again?"

"We're not sure about that, Peeta," Dr. Valero flashed a somewhat condemning look towards Beetee. "You see, the jacker juice Effie substituted is a recreational drug that was created for the people in the Capitol. You've heard of morphling, yes?" Everyone nodded. "Think of this as a combination of morphling and tracker jacker venom. It has the ability to produce hallucinations like the actual venom, it's exceptionally addictive, yet provides a more..." she turned to Beetee for a second, then back to Peeta, "...it should give you a feeling of pleasure. That's one of the reasons it's in high demand in the Capitol, but has been outlawed due to the side effects. Getting the drug out of your system should be much easier since Effie sent in the syringes full of the agent that counteracts it. The problem is...jacker juice can induce similar effects as the actual tracker jacker venom...long term memory loss and bouts of violent behavior."

"Which is why you attacked Gale earlier," Beetee added. "I'm unsure of why you failed to take your animosity out on Katniss, but something prevented you from doing it."

"You said that my memories were brought to the forefront and altered after being given the drug, right?" Peeta asked and Beetee nodded. "Well, Effie used to tell me that Snow was lying...about how much I loved Katniss. After they dosed me, Johanna...Annie, they all told me about her, but no one ever mentioned Gale."

"Aaaah," Beetee tapped at his chin. "That could explain it, don't you think doctor?"

"Absolutely," She nodded. "If Peeta was told, immediately after being drugged, contradictory information pertaining to his relationship with Katniss, but not Gale, then it stands to reason that the person his aggression would be taken out on is Gale."

"And Snow. Though I wouldn't rule Katniss out completely." Beetee added.

"He may get upset with her, however, if he were going to attack her I believe he would have done so when he came upon her and Gale..." Dr. Valero and Beetee began speaking privately to one another away from the group and looking over the canisters, and syringes that were sent to them.

"I might as well look at your head now," Prim gestured towards a chair for Peeta to sit in away from her mother and his father. Once he took a seat she said, "I am very...very upset with you, and before you say anything, I know what Snow did to you, but did you have to tell Katniss you wanted a divorce? Do you have any idea how much you hurt her?"

"I didn..."

Prim stood in front of him with a hand perched on her hip much like her sister. "I'm not through speaking yet."

"Sorry," Peeta mumbled.

"She has been suffering too Peeta, maybe not being abused the way you have, but you should know more than anyone that a person doesn't need to be physically beaten to be battered, and Katniss has been a battered woman being here without you. Did you know she walked around this place moving her lips, talking to herself, thinking you could hear her? She thought if she stopped you wouldn't be able to feel her with you...to know that she was thinking of you. She actually believed she was helping you through your torture. The only reason she's not doing it now is because Dr. Valero gave her a book to write in so Katniss wouldn't completely lose her mind, which she was pretty close to doing."

"Prim, I didn't know what I was saying when I told her I wanted a divorce."

"No, Peeta...I think you did. I think you knew exactly what you were saying and you wanted to hurt her as much as you were hurting." Peeta felt the pressure of Prim's fingers at the base of his skull and grimaced. "It's just a lump, and the doctor says you don't have a concussion, so you'll be fine. Probably have a headache, but that's about it."

"Thanks," Peeta made to stand, but Prim put her hand on his shoulder holding him in place.

"I still didn't say I was through yet," she scolded him. "I was at your wedding Peeta along with my mother, Haymitch, your father, Madge and Mayor Undersee. Other than the day you and Katniss came back as victors, it was the happiest day of my life. I watched you two get married...legally married by Mayor Undersee," she threw him an accusatory look, "and all I could think of was how lucky the two of you were to have found each other. How Katniss had spent her entire life telling me she never wanted to get married...warning me that loving someone was dangerous, that it didn't accomplish a thing other than bring people suffering and pain, yet there she stood, doing the exact thing she spent her life telling me not to do, because you two loved each other so much you were willing to risk everything to get married in Twelve instead of the Capitol. So you think about that the next time you decide you're going to ask my sister for a divorce." Prim stopped herself before turning away from him, and said much more gently, "You were supposed to be the one person in the world that didn't hurt her. Don't prove my sister's theories on falling in love right, Peeta."

Dr. Valero entered the hospital room on tiptoes being extra careful not to disturb her patients. "Oh," she spoke quietly when she saw Peeta's blue eyes gleaming back at her. "You're awake."

"Katniss," Peeta spoke gently to her when she started crying in her sleep. "It's okay. It's just a dream, Katniss." He told himself he needed to climb out of bed, to unwrap his arms that were clinging to her like a life preserver.

"If you wouldn't mind letting her sleep, I'd appreciate it," Dr. Valero spoke softly and stood at the edge of Peeta's bed. "We couldn't give her a sedative like we could you, and she was quite upset."

"Why is she in here?" Peeta asked.

Dr. Valero pointed to the drapes that separated him from Finnick and Katniss' empty bed. "We thought it best if we kept all three of you in here together. As far as why she's in bed with you...I can only imagine that she wanted to sleep with her husband after being without you for so long."

"Weren't you afraid I'd hurt her?" Peeta was petrified of it.

Dr. Valero let out a small sigh. "I am somewhat afraid of that, however, she seems to think you'd rather die than cause her any physical harm, and...I don't know..." she ran a hand over her swollen abdomen, "...maybe it wasn't the soundest medical decision I've ever made when I saw that she had climbed into bed with you, but the woman...the expectant mother in me, completely understood."

"Peeta?" Katniss spoke in her sleep, her hands reaching upward into the air trying to grab at something that didn't exist.

"Shh," he took hold of them and brought them back down to his chest, "I'm right here. Go to sleep."

"Was I wrong, Peeta?" Dr. Valero gave him a concerned look. "Do you think you're going to hurt her?"

In that moment, all he wanted to do was hold Katniss for the rest of his life. "Not right now, but I might...I could, couldn't I?"

"I suppose so," she pulled up a small stool on wheels and sat close to him. "But who's to say she won't fall down a flight of stairs and break her neck tomorrow, or that she'll go out to film one of those propos and wind up in the middle of a battle again, only this time getting killed in the process." Regina set her hand on the bed's metal frame. "The point is, none of us can predict the future. You and Katniss are living proof of that. You entered the first arena thinking only one of you...probably both of you would wind up dead, yet you both won. You thought you'd never have to face the arena again, yet there you were in the middle of the Quell... Get the picture?"

"Yeah," Peeta was starting to feel like a complete ass for the way he had treated Katniss, but that still didn't mean he should cave into his feelings and start up a relationship with her again however, he definitely needed to apologize. "I said some pretty horrible things to her."

"Yes, but you should give yourself a little break. Some things you simply cannot avoid, and blaming Katniss for the bombing of Thirteen was one of those things."

"I've been cruel...hateful." He didn't know what other way to put it.

"You've been vengeful," she corrected him. "Your mind has been deceiving you, and when you lose control of your own faculties, it preys upon the images you were shown, the things you were told, thus causing you to act like..." she searched for a term he could understand.

"Like a son of a bitch," he grinned at her.

She chuckled lightly. "Like a son of a bitch," she agreed, "but Peeta, these things are not your fault."

"Is there any way I'll ever get back what I lost?" If there was, then maybe he and Katniss stood an actual chance at a future.

"Beetee and I have been trying to come up with some sort of solution, we've examined everything Effie has sent to us, and the fact remains, we have no idea if we can reverse this. The only thing we have been able to accomplish is to work the venom out of your system, but the damage has already been done, and the treatments Effie sent along will no longer be of any help," Dr. Valero had a defeatist expression across her face.

"Will I go through withdrawals anymore?"

"You shouldn't, but..."

"But I can still explode at any given time," Peeta let out a breath of frustration. "I need to get out of here, Dr. Valero. If she wakes up and I do something to her..." He noticed the doctor's pregnant belly and said, "…and I think it's best if you don't treat me anymore either. I'd hate it if you were on the end of one of my fits."

"There's no need for concern. You didn't know me prior to arriving in Thirteen, so you have no ill feelings towards me," Regina lowered her voice down so as not to disturb Katniss. "The majority of your anger extends towards Gale, and thanks to Effie, President Snow, but you do have a great deal of pent up frustration towards Katniss, and the only way to work through that is to work with her. Find out about your life, things you and she knew that no one else did."

Peeta gave her an inquisitive look. "Thought you said the side effects were irreversible?"

"They are, but," she gave him a tiny grin, "there's no harm in trying to remember. Try to live life like you used to. Ask Katniss about your life…do the things you normally did before, and who knows what might happen."

"And what happens if we're in the middle of living our...normal life, and I have an episode?" The expression on the doctor's face said it all. "Yeah, that's what I thought. I'm no good for her, or for the baby." Peeta started to slide his arm from beneath Katniss in order to leave, but her grip on him only tightened. "Dr. Valero, I'm not comfortable staying in here like this with her." He paused before admitting out loud, "It's too hard. Knowing I have to keep my distance from her...from the baby...I can't be here."

Regina gave it a little thought then asked, "Are you planning on being a father to this child?"

"Of course," Peeta said with quiet shock. "I'm not going to leave her on her own to deal with this, but...I can't continue our relationship. Guess you could say I'll be a silent father. One that hides in the background so his family can actually have a decent life, and once she doesn't need me anymore, I'll step out of the picture. I have to end this relationship with her before things go any further."

Regina shook her head from side to side, "I think you're making a big mistake."

"No offense, but you don't know me. The only thing you know about me is what you've heard from Katniss and what you've seen on television, so don't assume I'm making a mistake." All Peeta wanted to do was protect Katniss and the baby, and the last thing he needed was some doctor trying to make him feel guilty for being responsible.

Regina lifted her chin and said, "Fair enough. Then may I ask, are you willing to help her now?"

"Suppose so," Peeta answered wondering what the doctor had in mind.

"Then stay put and let her sleep. Going through all this stress has been very difficult on Katniss. She hasn't been eating or drinking properly, her blood pressure has been high and the baby's heart rate continues to drop, which concerns me. So I'm asking you, not only as her physician, but as her friend, let Katniss have this, Peeta. Go back to sleep, and allow Katniss and the baby to get the rest they both so desperately need."

A surge of panic rushed through him. "Why...what...wh..." He reached a hand out to the physician, squeezing her arm. "Is it because of me?"

"She's been under a great deal of stress, and I'm sure your situation doesn't help any," Regina stood up. "If you're planning on delivering the news to her that you'd like a separation, I'm going to ask that you wait until I can monitor the baby. Good night, Peeta."

"Wait," Peeta quietly called out to her, careful not to move too much. "What if...if I stayed...just during the pregnancy...with guards," he began thinking out loud, "there would always have to be guards around just in case...would that help her?"

"It might, but I can't guarantee that either," the physician informed him. "The fact is, some women deal with certain types of stress perfectly fine, yet others..." Regina took her seat again. "In Katniss' case, put her in a life and death situation, threaten a loved one...anything like that, there's a side of her that comes out, the side I believe will make a wonderful mother, and protects the ones she loves. She can stare down the face of danger without thinking twice about it," The doctor fumbled with the edge of the sheet for a moment then said, "However, when it comes to matters of the heart, she seems to falter. I wish I could say for certain that having the man she left in the arena back would solve her problems, but I don't think they will, because..." The doctor gave him a look that clearly read pity, "...that's just not who you are anymore."

"At least we agree on that." Peeta glanced down at Katniss' sleeping face, then back up to the doctor. "What do I do?"

"I can't answer that, but I don't think running away from your problems is the answer."

"And when I feel all that..." Peeta gripped the side of the bed sheets in his fists, "...that anger building up inside of me? Then what? How do I protect her then?"

"For now, I don't see any reason why we can't do as you suggested and keep guards posted. If you two would like to be alone, then I'm sure Gale Hawthorne would be happy to provide Katniss with a gun, and she can simply shoot you."

Peeta stared at the doctor's blank expression until the woman cracked a smile, and he joined her feeling a bit of the tension lift. "That's okay. I think I'll pass on that." He paused for a moment then said, "I'll need some time to decide whether or not being with her is for the best."

"I don't want to pressure you, but she needs to start taking better care of herself, and right now all she's doing is spending her time worrying about you...what's going to happen between the two of you. You'll need to make this choice sooner rather than later."

"In other words, if I don't try and work things out with her, she won't deal with it well, which could hurt the baby?" Regina gave her shoulder a noncommittal shrug. "Do I really have any other choice but to stay?" He knew the answer before he even asked the question.

Regina gave his hand a pat, "Get some sleep, Peeta. You both need the rest. I'll see you in the morning."

"Yeah...sure. G'night. Hey, Dr. Valero, would you mind leaving that little light on?" He asked, afraid of what the dark would bring. Peeta stood staring at the shadows on the wall for several minutes trying to decide what to do. "I'm sorry," he moved his lips and spoke to a sleeping Kantiss. "This whole time all I wanted to do was protect you, and I did the exact opposite." His eyes drifted closed then flew open. "It was you," his lips barely moved. "I was talking to you in the jail cell." A tiny burst of air escaped as a soft smile played upon the corner of his lips. Peeta knew what he was going to do, and promised himself that he'd start once Katniss had woken up, not knowing that she already had.

...

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Effie awoke with a thumping headache on the chilly concrete floor of a Capitol jail cell. Across from her Annie sat with her knees to her chest, rocking back and forth mumbling to herself, and next to her... "Johanna?" The cell was empty, but the sounds of Johanna's yells came through a tiny vent above Effie's head. "Oh, Johanna," she sighed.

"About time you woke up," a very familiar voice spoke to her.

"Mr. Tanner!" Effie stood to her feet, and fell slightly backwards from being lightheaded. "You're alive."

Her personal Peacekeeper moved closer to the bars that separated them. "No thanks to you," he said angrily. "Our president thought he should have a guard on his side that hated you as much as he does. You know...someone that would actually enjoy spilling your blood." Effie let out a little gasp. "I'm being sworn in to his elite squad tomorrow." Steven's expression was one of disdain when he spoke to Effie. He gave her a deadly glare, "President Snow just wanted you to know who it is you'll be dealing with from now on." Steven tugged on the metal studded gloves he wore. "If you'll excuse me, I have a rebel from District Seven to pay a visit to."

The room where Johanna Mason had spent much of her time being water tortured was of average size for a holding cell. No bars, only cement walls and a round built in tub of water, deep enough to hold her dangling body underwater without her feet touching the ground. As Steven Tanner entered he saw two female hands tied to a large wooden structure the Peacekeepers used to hang her from, struggling against the thick rope binding her to it. Water splashed everywhere as two Peacekeepers stood talking amongst themselves about how long their prisoner could hold her breath before passing out. "Shane, Lockhead," Steven greeted the pair. "Pull her up. Snow wants to see her."

"That's not the order I was given," Shane spoke forcefully. "We were told to question her until she spoke or died."

Steven stood nose to nose with the guard and said in a low growl, "How long have you been appointed to the elite guard?"

"I'm not in the elite guard," he answered.

"Well, I am," Steven snapped forcefully. "Now pull her up, or it'll be you I'm taking to Snow!"

"Yes, sir," both Peacekeepers spoke at once then turned to pull up a no longer struggling Johanna.

"I think she's dead," Lockhead said with a bit of concern. "You killed her Shane!"

"Don't look at me. I wasn't the one that wanted to see how long she could stay under!"

Steven walked slowly up to Johanna, took the knife out of his belt and sliced her free, catching her sopping wet body in his hands and resting her down on the ground.

"Should we get medical, sir?" Lockhead asked.

Steven turned his fierce glare towards the pair. "If you want to sign your own death warrant and try to get to medical in time, go right ahead, but I'm not going to take the heat for this!" Steven walked towards the pair, "Stand guard outside. Let me see if I can rig this to look like an accident."

Lockhead headed out the door, thoughts of the brutal deaths Snow was capable of his motivation. "Come on Shane."

Steven stood toe to toe with Shane, "You're wasting time. Move," he spoke with authority to the Capitol born guard and stared him down until he exited. The moment the door shut Steven rushed to Johanna's side, performing the basic first aid training he was taught when being promoted to personal security detail. That was the only reason a Peacekeeper was provided with life saving techniques. "Come on, Mason. Don't die on me." He pumped at her heart, lifted her head back and blew, repeated the process over and over again until Johanna coughed up the water that had filled her lungs.

"Hey Hagar," she rasped out.

"Christ. Don't do that to me again," Steven sat next to her on the floor. "Stay down, and don't talk or we're both dead." He took about ten seconds before saying, "Okay, I'm carrying you out of here, and when I do, I need you to act like you're barely alive. Don't speak, hang your head...whatever it is that people who are barely alive do. Got it?" Johanna started to open her mouth but Steven covered it with his hand and said, "You want to get out of the Capitol dead, or alive?"

"Alive," she mumbled behind his hand.

"Then for once in your life, shut up and listen Mason." He lifted her from her spot, and Johanna let herself lay limp in his arms. "Okay," Steven spoke more to himself than her. "Game time," he kept his posture straight, his back stiff, and pounded on the door with his boot. "Open up."

Shane opened the door and noticed Johanna in his arms. "What the hell are you doing with her?"

"I was about to shred the rope, and she coughed out a bunch of water. I'm taking her to medical before we lose her." He started down the hall. "You're dismissed. I'll take care of it from here. Tell medical you two cut her down before she drowned." Giving them credit for saving Johanna's life was risky, but the Capitol bred Peacekeeper might overlook the gesture, the idea of being praised by higher ups in the Capitol being too tempting.

"Good luck, Tanner," Shane called out to him as he and Lockhead walked in the opposite direction, and Steven almost breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Hey, Hagar," Johanna opened one eye and whispered to him. "Where the hell are you taking me?"

"Shut up Johanna," he whispered harshly. Once both guards were gone he headed towards a section of wall next to the elevator that took them one floor down to the jail cells. "Can you stand?"

"Yeah," Johanna felt herself wobble a bit, but hung onto his arm to keep her steady. "Where the...holy shit," her eyes opened wide. "What the hell is that?" She watched as a section of wall next to the elevator vanished and was led into a corridor.

"This is the passage that leads to the jail cells…to your escape." Steven pulled a small radio out of his vest and handed it to Johanna. "Effie forgot to send this with Peeta. I don't think she even remembered she had it." He pulled his metal studded glove off and pulled off a thin white one he wore beneath. "Man, what the hell did they do to you?" He pressed it against a cut across her chest and heard Johanna suck a deep breath in between her teeth.

"That hurts," she complained.

"Quit your bitching Johanna. I don't like whiny women."

"They're gonna find out what you did brainless. You should've just let me stay dead." Johanna dropped to the floor out of sheer exhaustion. "Once they find out you rescued me from those two guards…"

"I'm going to hide you," he interrupted her.

"And how the hell do you think you're going to hide me? It's not like I'm going to fit into your pocket and you can walk out with me."

"Shut up, Johanna." Steven checked up and down the corridor. "I don't want to leave you here, but I have to. I've got to get Annie and Effie out."

"Great!" Johanna bitched. "You're going to get us all killed!"

"No I'm not!" Steven was so frustrated with her he was visibly shaking. "Johanna, they're coming," He knelt down next to her. "The rebels…they're coming for you. I heard the radio broadcast this morning." He lifted the tiny device to her. "They've got everything coordinated down to the minute, with the exception of one thing...how to get the three of you in one place."

"Four," Johanna corrected. "They've got Portia somewhere in here too."

"Portia..." Steven held his head down. "I'm sorry Johanna, but getting her out is too risky. She's under too much surveillance."

"And the jails aren't?" Johanna countered.

"Not anymore. Effie and Annie aren't much of a threat." Steven stood up and looked at his watch. "I've got ten minutes before they land. Can you listen to the radio...quietly," he accentuated the word. "If something changes...if they run into trouble...anything, I need you to tell me."

"Where are you going?" Johanna tried to stand, but her body was too worn out.

Steven stood proud and answered, "To keep my oath and save the life of Effie Trinket."

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Katniss awoke to voices attempting to speak quietly, and failing miserably. She sat up in Peeta's bed who was nowhere to be found. She glanced down at her hand and noticed the IV that had been providing her with fluids had been removed, and the bracelet that monitored the baby's vital signs had been put back on. The sight of the bandage on her hand made her think of Regina, and suddenly a dam of memories broke through her morning haze flooding her with a mixture of resentment, distress, and the need to protect herself from Peeta's upcoming act of benevolence.

Regina's voice was quiet, but serious, "I don't want to pressure you, but she needs to start taking better care of herself, and right now all she's doing is spending her time worrying about you...what's going to happen between the two of you. You'll need to make this choice sooner rather than later."

"In other words, if I don't try and work things out with her, she won't deal with it well, which could hurt the baby?" Katniss didn't hear Regina answer. "Do I really have any other choice but to stay?"

'He wants to end things with me. Fine. I don't want him to stay out of pity,' Katniss thought to herself. She stopped before letting out a sigh. 'He might stay,' the voice in her head sounded almost pathetic to her. 'Yeah, for the baby's sake.' She made a noise somewhere between a grunt and a grumble alerting her present company that she was able to face the day.

"Wonderful, she's awake," Plutarch's high spirits always got on her nerves. "Let's wait for Peeta and then I can fill you all in."

"Fill us in on what?" Katniss draped her legs over the edge of the bed.

Finnick took a spot next to Katniss. "I've been asking him for thirty minutes now, but he won't say a thing until Peeta gets here."

"Okay, I'm here. What do you want?" Peeta entered with Dr. Valero in tow a few seconds later. His voice was no longer hard, but he had yet to make eye contact with Katniss.

"They're getting them out," Plutarch said with a pleased expression across his face. "Boggs is leading a rescue mission," Plutarch's facial features changed. "Unfortunately lives will be lost and covers blown, but we must get Effie and Annie out...and of course, Johanna and Portia as well," he added as an afterthought.

"How the hell are they going to accomplish something like that?" Peeta took a few steps back until he felt the stability of a wall behind him.

"It's a brilliant plan," Plutarch spoke. "It involves gas, and the tunnels. Justus has knowledge of their layout, and has spent much time drawing out diagrams of them from the moment Effie informed us that she had access to them. Of course we're currently running on the assumption that they've stayed the same. I cannot imagine President Snow would change the corridors considering he thought Justus was dead for so long, and the rebellion quelled within the Capitol." Plutarch seemed to be having a conversation with himself. "No, of course he wouldn't have altered them. That wouldn't make any sense whatsoever."

"So," Katniss stood and gripped the edge of the bed's railing. "When will we know?"

"The next twelve to eighteen hours are critical," Plutarch said. "Would you like me to have the doctors sedate any of you until it's over?" Plutarch looked around the group.

"I'd love to be, but I think we all know that's impossible," Katniss lifted her eyes to Peeta's sunken shoulders. "You should, Peeta. You don't need to go through anymore hell than you already have," she suggested. Regardless of the emotional turmoil she was currently going through, she still cared about him and always would.

He shook his head. "I don't want another drug as long as I live." He turned to Plutarch a thought suddenly plaguing him, "Where's Haymitch? Why isn't he telling us this?"

Plutarch shook his head in disbelief, "The mission was volunteer only. Boggs ignored Haymitch's request to go until he brought up an excellent point. Effie Trinket wouldn't trust anyone but him, and she's of the utmost importance to the rebellion."

"Volunteer?" Katniss asked nervously. "Justus, Haymitch, and Boggs have gone, but who else?"

"There were seven in all I believe," everyone in the room could sense that Plutarch was avoiding something. "A former Tribute Train attendant named, Kimber, and...Lavinia."

"Lavinia?" Katniss faced Regina. "Oh my God, does she even have enough training for something like that?"

"She's been in training for weeks now," Plutarch answered. "She's quite an adept soldier. Amazing really. Who knew she had so much talent?"

'Spend your life as an Avox,' Katniss thought to herself, 'You'd have the drive to be a soldier in the rebel's army too.' "Who else, Plutarch?" Katniss' question demanded an answer.

Plutarch had an almost sheepish look cross his face as he said, "I think you know who."

It was Peeta who said what Katniss was thinking, "Gale." Just thinking about Gale going on the mission left Peeta feeling torn. On the verge of anger, thinking maybe the guy had gone to get in good with Katniss, and gratefulness for risking his life for people he probably didn't give a damn about.

Regina walked up to Katniss, placed an arm around her back. "Justus will get them out of there. I just know it."

The physician's stomach seemed to get larger every time Katniss looked at it. She understood what the doctor was going through. What it felt like to wonder if the child you were carrying would ever have the opportunity to meet its father. "Why don't you sit, Regina?" Katniss motioned towards the hospital bed.

"No," Regina shook her head. "I need to do something to occup...keep my..." The doctor who had never faltered teared up. "If you'll excuse me, I need to do some work with Prim. She's come up with an idea to help Peeta, and I believe it may work."

"What..."

"Don't ask yet, Katniss," Regina stopped her. "We're still working on it, and if it fails...I don't want to get your hopes up. In the meantime..." Regina faced the people in the room, her voice cracked before leaving. "I'll be thinking of all of your loved ones today."

Three former tributes stood unmoving, staring...wondering...imagining the worst...until Finnick broke the silence. "Don't you see? This is good news. We'll know by tomorrow. No more imagining the worst. They'll either be here with us or they'll be dead," there was an optimistic edge to his voice that neither Katniss nor Peeta could deny. Both options were better than the not knowing.

Peeta stood tall, hands to his sides. "I want to go."

"I'm sorry, Peeta," Plutarch said, "It's too late. They've left already."

"Then I'll meet up with them," he took a step towards the former Head Gamemaker. "I've been there. I know how the jail cells are laid out."

"You're too fragile, Peeta." Plutarch's words were a cover.

"No," Peeta shook his head then dropped it. "You mean I'm too dangerous."

Plutarch placed his hand on Peeta's shoulder. "The truth is, you're too important. There was talk about sending you back to the Capitol, especially with your current feelings towards President Snow, but this isn't the time. Right now, we need you here. The rebellion needs its Jabberjay."

The helpless feeling Katniss had been plagued with since arriving in Thirteen was evident in Peeta's features. "Well you can't expect us to just sit idly by and do nothing at all!" She barked. "We've got to do something!"

Plutarch pondered for a moment, lifted a finger in the air then said, "I have a brilliant idea. Let's get you three down to Beetee. Katniss...Peeta, you'll need to put your uniforms on, and I'll speak with Beetee about breaking through the Capitol's networking system."

"Yes!" Finnick practically jumped out of his skin. "A distraction of sorts. That's a great idea. What do you say, Katniss? Shall we go to Special Weaponry and show Peeta around?" He said eagerly.

"Yeah...sure." Katniss answered and walked with the group towards the elevator. She could've killed Finnick when he pulled Plutarch out of it at the last minute, leaving her and Peeta in there alone, claiming he needed to speak with the former Head Gamemaker in private.

"I don't know what floor it's on," Peeta stared straight ahead as Katniss pushed the button without saying a word, momentarily worried about being alone with her. "So...Beetee has a new weapon for me," he tried to make conversation in the hopes that he wouldn't have another violent outburst.

"I guess so," Katniss leaned against the wall with her hands behind her back.

Peeta thought of the portrait only he and his father had seen before covering it with a sheet and having his dad hide it in his new quarters. "And I'm painting again. It was…" Katniss flashed him a look that clearly stated she didn't want to hear about it, "ni...nice," he stumbled over his words knowing he sounded like a complete fool.

"Yup," Katniss wasn't in the mood to talk about his paintings, or anything at all for that matter. The only thing she wanted to hear was Peeta admitting that he didn't love her and wanted to end their marriage, or worse, that he was going to stay with her for the sake of the baby.

His plan that day was to apologize for the things he had said...the way he had been acting towards her. Peeta had given their situation careful consideration, coming to the conclusion that he not only wanted to stay with her during the remainder of the pregnancy, but for as long as she'd have him, and then he got up to use the restroom that morning. He didn't even make it five feet away from his bed before he felt that horrifying surge of fury go through his body. Thankfully he stumbled into the hallway where Dr. Valero had two guards posted. They quickly cuffed his hands and feet when he staggered through the door shaking uncontrollably, and took him to another room where Prim suggested they give him a tiny dose of morphling. If a large dose would put him to sleep, then maybe a small dose would calm him down. When Plutarch called for him, though Peeta admittedly was feeling better, he was petrified to be in the same room with Katniss. He was just about to tell Regina to get ready to monitor the baby's vital signs because he was breaking things off with Katniss, but life turned on a dime, as it usually did, and now he was trapped in an elevator with her, getting ready to help in… "Trapped in an elevator," Peeta whispered to himself. "We were trapped in an elevator together in Twelve. Real, or not real?"

"Real," Katniss slowly turned her head towards him. "Do you remember that?"

"You were scared."

"Yeah," Katniss nervously licked her lips, wishing the elevator they were currently on would hurry up and reach its destination.

"That's about all I can muster up." Peeta let his eyes drift from side to side trying to think of something else to say to her, anything to get break up the tension between them. "Do you think Haymitch will be well enough to make it through this mission?"

"He's got a powerful source of motivation. I'm sure he'll be fine." It was eating Katniss up alive talking to him with a cool tone in her voice, but she had to keep her distance, and she knew if she showed him one sign of affection she'd cave into her feelings, and allow him to hurt her. The best thing she could do was build up her defenses, and not let him in. She had done it once before when they had first gotten home from the Games, she could do it again. 'Yeah, and look how well that worked out for you,' she ran a hand over her pregnant stomach. "Oh shut up," she mumbled to herself.

"Did you say something?" Peeta asked.

"No." That dreaded spot between her eyes started to throb uncontrollably, but Katniss refused to rub at the bridge of her nose. As far as she was concerned, it would be showing a sign of weakness, and that was a handicap she refused to succumb to. The wall of defense she decided to build was going up brick by brick as she thought about her current situation. People were putting their lives at risk to go on the mission she had been waiting for since arriving in Thirteen, and Peeta was acting like nothing had happened between the two of them. She had been hurt, more than wounded, by his recent behavior, pissed as hell after hearing what he had said to Regina last night, and now she had to put on a show for the cameras. 'Guess the odds will never be in my favor,' she thought to herself as she slouched against the wall.

"And what if Haymitch isn't okay?" He turned to face Katniss, a burst of uncontrollable anger shot through him. "He could barely hit the side of a barn with that damn knife he slept with when we first started training for the Quell, and you think he can just waltz into the Capitol and get Effie out? We'll be lucky if he makes it back alive. Or don't you care?"

"Of course I care about Haymitch!" Katniss yelled at him. "He's my family! I'm worried sick about him. Who do you think has been here with him...helping him through all of this while you and Effie were at the Capitol?" She pierced him with a vicious stare, "Maybe you're the one that doesn't care?"

He could feel a tingling coursing through him, a rage building up, and it petrified him to no end. No matter how hard he tried to tell himself not to say anything damning, he simply couldn't stop the words from coming out. "Oh, please. There's only one person on that mission I don't care about and you know who that is, so why don't we drop your, 'Oh I'm so worried about Haymitch,' act," he mimicked her voice, "and face the truth. It's Gale you're worried about, not Haymitch." He knew that would hurt, he could see it in her face, and in the back of his mind he berated himself for saying it. "Let's just get through this filming and go our separate ways for the rest of the day, okay?" The second he said it, he felt a tiny piece of himself crumble inside.

"Fine!" She snapped at him with her arms crossed and her foot tapping at the floor. "This way," she barked at him the second the doors opened.

"After you," he barked back.

Katniss led him through the different hallways without saying a word and let her anger fester within. She was tired of their fighting, and missed the man she had married. Even the man who she found in the tunnel was better than this one, but she didn't know how to bring him back, and at this point, she wondered why she should even bother. He obviously hated her. "We need to go through security first." Their fingerprints were taken, a retina scan was done, then Katniss pointed him towards the DNA scanner. "Just walk through it."

Peeta stepped under the arch of the device, waited and asked, "Does it always take this long?" A hint of impatience in his tone.

"It's your first time under. It has to register you in the syst..."

A computer generated voice interrupted Katniss, "Peeta Mellark." The green light flashed and he stepped to the other side.

Prior to Katniss walking through she spoke to the newest guard that was standing watch. "You may want to get Beetee. Whenever I walk through this thing it says 'unknown DNA' and he's got to override the system."

For a brief second Peeta's eyes flashed to Katniss wondering why the scanner responded that way. "Is there a reason it doesn't detect your DNA?" He asked when the guard left.

Katniss checked to make sure they were alone then said, "It detects mine, but it also detects the one it can't identify," she quickly glanced downward.

It took Peeta a second before realizing who's DNA the computer was detecting. "Oh."

"For Christ sake, what's taking him so long?" The guard had been gone for all of three minutes before Katniss felt her patience being stretched to the limit. "Screw this."

Her slipper covered feet took their designated spot under the arch. The computer generated voice spoke, "Katniss Mellark." She expected the red light and the alarm to instantly sound, instead her eyes flashed to Peeta's when the computer announced, "Female fetus…Mellark."

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"Cresta! Trinket!" Steven walked to their cells, "President Snow wishes to see you." He waved a hand in front of the lock on Annie's cell door, cuffed her, then did the same with Effie. "Move!" He held a gun to their backs, then spoke to the guard on the way out. "Mason's dead. Drowned during torture, but Snow wants you to look through her cell to make sure everything's clear. These rebels are resourceful. She could have hidden something in it."

"Yes, sir," the Peacekeeper walked towards Johanna's cell while Steven placed the key to the cuffs in Effie's palm, turned around, pulled a device out from his pocket, snapped it onto the end of his gun and shot the guard in the back within the span of seconds. "We don't have much time," he pulled the silencer off of the gun and handed it to Effie. "Remember how to use this?"

"Yes," she nodded frantically, wondering what on earth was happening.

"Unlock Annie, and stand by the commode in the cell with the broken lock."

"Mr. Tanner what about Portia?" The rest of the prisoners had been missing for over a day, and Effie could only assume they had been killed.

He turned around her with fury on his face, "You, Effie. You and I both know you won't leave without Annie, so that's it!" He quietly yelled at her. "Now go or I'll put a bullet through her brain and drag you out of here."

Effie could tell from the look on his face the man wasn't kidding. She and Annie stood next to the steel toilet in the first jail cell that no one was ever locked up in and watched as Mr. Tanner attempted to lift the guard up and throw him over his shoulder. "Ugh," he grunted, still sore from his recent surgery.

"Annie, you stay here," Effie ran out of the cell and took the dead guard's arm while Mr. Tanner took the other and they dragged. "Where are we going to put him?" She asked.

"In the tunnel." Mr. Tanner turned to Annie, "Flush that thing in rapid succession six times. Hurry."

Annie's eyes were wide with shock as she followed orders and the wall disappeared. "Oh my goodness," she said in her timid voice.

"Let's go," Steven and Effie dragged the guard into the tunnel, leaving him right next to the doorway once the wall was back in place. "I can't get to Portia, Miss. Trinket. I'd like to help you, but I just can't get to her. You three are all I'm able to..."

"Three?" Effie asked.

"Johanna's not dead, she's waiting for us, now get the guard's weapons and let's go," Mr. Tanner gently ordered her. "Stand back," he pushed on a wall in seven different spots, and revealed an exceptionally battered Johanna Mason sitting with her back against a wall.

"About damn time you showed up," She tried to stand, but fell down to her knees. "Son of a bitch," she said under her breath, and lifted concerned eyes to Steven. "Hagar, get them out. I'm not going to make it."

"You think I went through all of this to leave you here, Johanna?" He placed an arm under her so she could lean on him. "Those rebels are on their way here," he quickly brought Effie and Annie up to speed. "Now…we're all getting out of here," he said to Johanna.

Effie's spirits lifted, "You mean you'll join the rebellion?"

"No," he led them down the tunnel towards the Tribute Center, "but I'm not sticking around here either. I overheard a meeting while standing guard yesterday about my district needing help. I'm not sure how I'll get there, but...I'd like to go home and do my part."

Johanna rolled her eyes as she held onto his shoulders for leverage. "So you want to save us and then fight against us? Might as well leave me here, Hagar. I don't want to have to kill you," she said dryly.

After ten minutes of traveling a demure voice spoke from behind Effie, "Where are we going?" Annie gripped the back of Effie's tattered clothing she was still wearing since the interview days earlier.

"Roof of the Tribute Center," Steven replied and noticed each of Johanna's steps getting more and more sluggish. "Come on, Mason. You're a victor. You can do this."

Steven's words were what she was telling herself at that very moment, but her body wasn't listening. "Give me a break, will ya Steven. I just got brought back from the dead."

"It's Hagar," there was a hint of teasing in his voice. "Hagar the horrible."

"Knew you liked that name." Her legs gave out almost causing her to fall face first, but Steven's arms were there to catch her.

"Come on, Johanna," he sounded like he was pleading with her. "Don't give up on me now."

"Shh," Johanna stopped moving. "They're talking."

The group gathered around the tiny radio and listened carefully. "Freedom to Silence, we've nested."

"Freedom, birds have flown the coop, a search is in progress."

Steven could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. "They know you're gone. Johanna, you're going to have to stand on yo..." The blast of a gun shot fired through the tunnel, and Johanna's body slumped to the ground. With one hand Steven pushed Annie down, and with the other he let out three shots in quick succession taking out the three guards heading his way.

Effie took her stance with her back to him, prepared to fire at the loud footsteps heading towards them from behind. "I'm on wide shot," she flipped a button on her weapon, and shot at the white uniformed guards racing towards them, wounding one and killing two.

"You'll only have enough power for a few shots if you keep it set on wide," Steven fired one more shot and took out the injured guard. "Come on!" He reached down and picked up Johanna who had blood dripping from the side of her head.

"Take the radio, Annie and run like the wind," Effie yelled as they headed towards freedom. "Is she dead?" She asked of Johanna.

"Not yet," Johanna croaked out. "Just a flesh wound."

Effie took up the rear, Annie the middle and Steven the front cradling Johanna's limp body like an infant. His gun hand sticking out from beneath her knees, taking aim at anything headed their way. "It's not much further," he spoke words of encouragement to the women. Within seconds more Peacekeepers were behind them, too far away to hit anything with their guns, but the well trained guards were easily catching up with the group.

"Go Annie!" Effie screamed out for the girl to follow Steven and took a proud rebel stance thinking if she was going to go down, she would do so with a fight. "They're falling!" She turned towards Steven and yelled out, "They're collapsing." A puff of white smoke was billowing towards them and Effie instantly thought of the fog the Gamemakers had used against the tributes in the arena, "My God!"

Steven turned on his heels to see what Effie was screaming about. "We're almo..." The first blast of a gunshot struck him in the leg, the second, between his shoulder blades causing him to fall to his knees.

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Their eyes met, their disagreements melted away. Nothing seemed to matter anymore except for one thing. They were having a baby girl.

"Oh, Katniss," Beetee's voice broke Katniss and Peeta from their reverie. "I see the scanner has finally been able to identify you without any problems." He led them through the glass doors towards the next security area. "Fortunately we won't need to waste time with alarms and what not," Beetee said when they arrived at the next security area.

Katniss' eyes flashed to Peeta's. "Hey, Beetee," Peeta walked up to the man and put an arm around his shoulder. "Would you mind giving me and Katniss a second. We sort of had a little spat earlier and...well...you know how it is," Peeta gave the man a little wink.

"Oh. Oh, yes. Certainly. Come with me," he spoke to the soldier that was posted there, hurrying trough the security area. "I shall have your uniforms ready and waiting for you," Beetee said before leaving them alone to work through their spat.

"If I were you, I'd hurry up," Peeta practically pushed Katniss through the archway. "Finnick, Plutarch and his film crew are right behind us."

Katniss didn't even bother to look. She simply rushed through the process of identification once again, as if her fingerprints and DNA had changed in the past few seconds, and tried not to show too much excitement when the computer's voice repeated the news of their baby's gender. There would be time to allow the news to register later.

"Katniss," Peeta stopped her with his voice before she entered the room where Beetee waited for them.

"Not now, Peeta," the cool tone she had been giving him was gone.

"I just wanted to say..." Plutarch's posse entered the room talking so loudly Peeta could barely hear himself think. "I didn't mean it when I blamed you for the bombing," he mouthed to her as he stepped through the DNA scanner.

"I didn't mean to snap at you this morning," she mouthed back stepping away from the doorway, moving closer to Peeta.

"I'm afraid, Katniss. I could lose it, explode at any minute...hurt you...hurt the baby," he silently admitted to her as he took one more step. "I was going to end things with you because of it."

When she heard the reason behind the things he had said she blew out a sigh of relief, "I thought you hated me," she closed the gap between them, unaware that Plutarch had ordered the cameramen to film their silent conversation.

"I don't hate you, Katniss," he wanted desperately to hold his hand out to her, but denied himself the pleasure. "Do you hate me?"

"No. I was trying to this morning, but that didn't work out too well."

"Seems like no matter how much we try to stay apart, something keeps pushing us back together again huh?"

"Yeah," she whispered, her eyes locked on his now instead of his lips.

They stayed staring at each other that way for a few seconds before Peeta pulled his focus, reminding himself that he had to keep some sort of distance from her. There were other issues much more pressing to deal with. "What do you say we do our part in bringing our daughter's grandparent's home?"

"Sounds good to me," she was about to slip her fingers through his until she noticed the group of people behind her, and the camera's red light glaring at her. "Great," Katniss rolled her eyes at them and headed through the door. "Do you know if we were actually talking back there?" She whispered to Peeta over her shoulder. The sound of his laughter was almost foreign to their ears. "What's so funny?"

"How many people actually have to ask a question like that, Katniss?"

"None that I know of," she shirked a shoulder.

As they entered the room with Beetee he asked, "Did you two work everything out?"

"Did we?" Peeta asked with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

Her face was stone, but even the toughest of rocks could crack under pressure. "For now." Things were better, but they'd still have to do some serious talking. "So...um...is it okay if I'm worried about Gale too?" It was silly asking Peeta for permission, completely unlike her. However, considering his condition...his feelings towards Gale, and the fact that she knew she'd never be able to hide her concern for her best friend, Katniss felt an obligation to forewarn Peeta in an attempt to prevent another fight.

"Guess I'm going to have to learn to deal with that," he could feel a part of him bristling at the thought then realized he had a friend he was terrified for. "Is it okay if I'm worried sick about Johanna?"

"Johanna?" Katniss was kind of surprised at this. "I guess so. I mean...we were allies in the arena."

Peeta got a far off look in his eyes remembering all that the woman had done for him while he was held captive. "Johanna was a lot more to me than just an ally, Katniss."

For the first time since Peeta had been back, Katniss could relate to his feelings of jealousy towards Gale. She was sure there was nothing going on between Peeta and Johanna, but that still didn't take away from the fact that Johanna had shared weeks with Peeta that Katniss didn't. She had been there for Peeta during the worst moments of his life, while Katniss spent her time with her belly full of food, hunting...laughing with Gale... Yes, she completely understood why President Snow would use jealousy as a weapon. It was a powerful source of vengeance.

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"No!" Effie screamed out as she shot blindly at the Peacekeeper running towards them, missing him completely.

"EFFIE STOP!" Haymitch ran behind Gale who was dressed as a Capitol guard.

"Haymitch!" Her first instinct was to run into his arms. Effie was torn for all of a second before dropping to her knees in front of Mr. Tanner. "Don't you worry Mr. Tanner, you'll be fine. Help is here now." She looked up to Haymitch and Gale, "We have to get them out of here."

Gale reached his arms out and lifted Johanna in them. "I'm not bringing a Peacekeeper back with us! Let's go!"

"Come on, Effie," Haymitch spoke into his wristband, "We've got them," then turned to Effie, "We've got to go sweetheart before that gas knocks us out."

"I will not leave him!" Effie rolled Steven onto his side and looked absently around for something to press against his wounds, finding nothing to staunch the blood flow, she ripped her own blouse off, holding it against the bullet wounds. "Haymitch, I cannot leave him behind. He's risked his life to help us escape. He's the reason I know about these tunnels. Please?" She looked up to him with tears in her eyes.

"Son of a bitch, Trinkie!" Haymitch reached down and lifted the man up, but he was built like a two ton brick house. "Sweet mother," he grunted as Effie took Steven's other arm and they dragged him down the hall. "Gale! We need your mask," he called up ahead to the man. A gas mask was thrown their way, as Gale ran with Johanna in his arms, and Annie hanging onto his belt. "Pick that thing up and put it on," Haymitch ordered Effie as they reached the mask, quickly looking up at the air duct the sleeping gas was about to come out of. "Hurry up or we're all dead!" Effie reached down and grabbed it, pulled it over her head, then took hold of Steven's arm again. Once she had it in place, Haymitch pulled his on, and said, "Jesuuus, Trinkie! You always have to be the mother lovin' hero!"

"Oh, shut up, Haymitch and move!" She ran as quickly as her petite frame could take her.

"What the hell are you doing in here anyway? We were on our way in to rescue you." Frustration dripped from Haymitch's voice, "You couldn't have waited a few minutes for me to break you out?"

"For criminy's sake, Haymitch…must you always complain?" Effie pulled her mask off and put it over Steven's face while holding her breath.

"Put that damn thing back on!" Effie glared at him. "Geez. Only you would risk your freaking life for a Peacekeeper."

She pulled the mask off of Steven and placed it on herself. "I'm afraid you have that backwards. This young man has done nothing but help us…helped me to get Peeta to safety, so I suggest you…stifle it." Effie felt a surge of adrenaline run through her when Haymitch pulled his mask off and placed it over Mr. Tanner's face.

"You...two...always this...friendly?" Steven said through gritted teeth.

"She's a pain in my ass!" Haymitch called out.

"And you're a moronic buffoon!" She yelled back.

Haymitch stole a quick glance at her and gave her a grin, "God, I've missed ya Trinkie."

"Me too darling." Effie smiled lovingly at him. "Now let's get Mr. Tanner to safety."

Gale pushed Annie towards Justus, who was waiting with another soldier next to the door that led to the Tribute Center, calling out, "Take her," shoving Johanna into the arms of Kimber. "Peacekeepers!" He pulled the trigger on his gun, missing the guards that were headed their way and opted for his bow and arrows once his hands were free. He reached behind him, pulled out a fire arrow and shot it into the chest of the lead Peacekeeper causing the man to go up in flames, and the ones behind him to take cover. "Come on!" He screamed towards Haymitch and Effie then ducked through the doorway.

"I'm not...going to make...make it," Steven could feel his whole body draining of blood.

"Yes you will, Mr. Tanner, and I don't want to hear another word about it," Effie said curtly.

"Effie..." Haymitch gave her a shake of his head as though telling her carrying the guard was useless.

"I will not leave this Capitol without you Mr. Tanner!" She spoke to Haymitch, "So I suggest you...haul ass!"

Steven let out a cough, "Yes...ma'am." He fought to keep his eyes open knowing once he closed them he'd be dead. As far as he was concerned, he still had a job to do; get Effie Trinket out alive. "Take the mask off. I can't breathe through it." Steven quickly surveyed the area, taking their options into consideration. "There's no way I'll make it up the stairs to the roof." Steven gestured with his chin towards the doorway, "To the right...behind the wall...of mir...mirrors there's an...express elevator. Goes...straight to th...the roof." He tried to take a breath, but they were getting harder and harder to come by. "There's...a key...my card..." he lost his train of thought for a moment then said, "Mis...Miss. Trinket, my card...'member?"

"This way," Gale was holding another door open for them.

"No," Haymitch motioned for the group to join him by the mirrors. "How do we access it?" He asked Steven.

"My...my card," he knew what he wanted to tell them, but was having a very difficult time.

"At his waist," Johanna reached for it and ripped it from his belt buckle remembering that's where he had put it when he stopped the elevator so they could watch the propos. "Where do I put it?"

"Tree," Steven panted out. "The lemon..."

"Got it," Johanna reached for Gale's arm. "Hold onto me before I pass out," her trained eye scanned the lemon trees that lined up in front of the mirrors and bright lights as decor. "There," she pointed to the middle of a thin trunk with an oddly shaped branch sticking out of it. "What do I do?" She asked Steven.

"Twist it to the left...pull on the...fifth..."

"Fifth lemon, got it," Johanna said feeling a shot of adrenaline shoot through her when the mirrors faded away and a steel elevator door appeared. "Remind me to kiss you when we get out of here Hagar."

Shots rang out from behind them. "HURRY!" Gale turned and shot another fire arrow through the door setting the control panel across from them on fire, then slammed their door closed. "Can't they stop this thing and get on?" Gale worried.

"Straight shot...to the roof." The pain was growing out of control as Mr. Tanner said, "Snow's escape plan...just in...case he...had to get out," his head dropped downward and he let out a loud groan.

Johanna pushed his card into the control panel. "Now what?" The elevator began moving of its own accord. "No dying on me Hagar," she warned him. "If I'm getting out of here, so are you. Got me?"

"Yeah," he swallowed the bile that was rising to his throat. "They'll be on the roof waiting...weapons ready."

Effie reached down and pulled Mr. Tanner's gun from his boot, pulled a knife from the back of his belt and handed it to Johanna, then gave Annie the baton. With guns in both hands, ready to fire, Effie stepped towards the front of the elevator. "Stay to the sides in case they shoot first," she stood next to Haymitch with her back plastered against the wall. The doors opened to reveal an all-out battle between the remaining soldiers and over a dozen Peacekeepers. "Get them to safety," Effie called out as she darted from the elevator with her guns blazing.

"Come on Effie," Haymitch yanked at one of her arms tugging her towards the hovercraft's staircase.

Annie was the first to enter the hovercraft, followed closely by Johanna, Kimber, Steven, Justus, and Gale. Haymitch had to pick Effie up, throw her over his shoulder and carry her struggling body inside when they spotted a Capitol official running towards them, dragging Portia behind, yelling out to the rescue team to wait for them. The craft lifted from the roof, leaving behind the remains of a once beautiful garden where Katniss and Peeta had dreamed of a world without Games, flattened wind chimes that no longer provided melodic tones, a Capitol official that had taken a bullet to his brain and Portia being dragged back into the Tribute Center by Peacekeepers.

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It was Cressida's idea to film outside in the midst of the woods, showing the destruction of the bombs Snow had dropped on Thirteen. Katniss had no clue what she was going to talk about, neither did Peeta. He could talk about the things Snow did to him at the Capitol, but the truth was he didn't know if bringing it up would cause him to have what Beetee referred to as a flashback. He could talk about Katniss, but that was a somewhat sticky situation as well. The nation needed to think the Mockingjay and the Jabberjay were still united. That their love was unbroken, and no one, especially President Snow, could ever break them apart. Though they had made it past their most recent disagreement, Peeta knew there was a long road ahead of them before they'd be where the country thought they were.

Makeup was slapped on Katniss fairly quickly, no one mentioned the conversation, the few words that may have been overheard, between her and Peeta in security, and frankly, Katniss no longer cared. She and Peeta had decided it was time to put an end to the charade the night he came to Thirteen, and Katniss was determined to stick to that decision. She was sure that was one of the reasons she and the baby weren't doing so well, and why she was wearing the bracelet that monitored the baby's vitals once again. Plutarch poked his head into the tiny remake room to tell her it was time to start filming, and Katniss followed him outdoors wearing her black mockingjay uniform. The first thing she noticed was the temperature. There was a chill in the air that hadn't been there before. How much time had gone by since the war started, and the districts stood up to Snow. The air she inhaled through her nose was fragrant with the end of summer and the beginning of fall. 'Autumn is Peeta's favorite time of year,' she thought to herself. She wondered if it would do him good to spend time watching the colors of the leaves change, to feel them crunch beneath his feet…to sketch them. "Where's Peeta?" She asked Plutarch, and found out he was waiting on set for her to join him.

"Katniss," Cressida began speaking, "We thought this was a perfect spot." Two chairs were set up in front of a giant oak tree.

"How did you find this tree?" She ran her hand over the bark curious as to how she missed it during her days spent hunting in the woods. "I had no clue..." her sentence trailed off as her eyes met Peeta's.

"It was one of the few that survived in this area," Cressida answered.

"It's oak, isn't it?" Peeta asked her.

"Yeah," she said quietly before taking her spot wondering if he remembered any of the moments they shared together in Twelve under one that looked just like it.

"Peeta if you wouldn't mind sitting next to her in that seat there," Cressida's directions started, but Katniss was still struggling to think of what to say during her interview.

The purpose of the day was to talk about something so riveting that no one from the Capitol would be able to keep their eyes off of their television screens. Especially Snow. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Peeta being fitted with his mic, thought about the stench of roses that had filled the woods only..., 'Geez,' she thought to herself, 'it's been...' she began counting back in her head and realized that Peeta had been back for almost a week. 'A week. What have Effie and the others gone through as punishment while you were here with me?' She tilted her head to the side and watched as his lips moved in conversation with Cressida and Plutarch. 'I know what I've gone through...the torture we've suffered regardless of whether or not you're here, but what about them?' "Cressida?" Katniss interrupted their conversation leaving Peeta and Plutarch to talk amongst themselves, "May I speak with you in private for a moment?" It was a simple enough request, but you would've thought that Katniss asked Cressida to give up a lung or something from the way the film maker responded. "I want you to ask me about Peeta and the baby today." Katniss took her seat, ignoring the sounds of excitement coming from the director. There was only one way to help the people she loved today, only one way to save the woman who had saved Peeta, and that was to show the world the person she had given Peeta a glimpse of the day she met him. The girl she allowed herself to be underneath an oak tree.

"Katniss...Peeta," the sound of Cressida's voice had them both turning towards the camera. "Thank you for coming here today…for speaking with us." They both nodded. "Peeta, this is your first formal interview since being back with Katniss. How do you feel about that?"

"A little nervous actually." His presence, which was normally so commanding during televised interviews, was a bit fidgety. "My last few interviews didn't turn out so well," he let out a burst of nervous laughter, and Katniss automatically reached for his hand that was gripping the arm of the chair and squeezed.

"No one will hurt you here. I won't let them," she realized something. That if she was going to do this, then she couldn't talk to a camera, she had to talk to Peeta. "Can you look at me for a second?" She never bothered to wait for Cressida's questions. Peeta faced her with a hint of fear in his eyes. "When we agreed to do this, I don't think anyone thought about the interviews Snow forced you to do with Caesar...how this would make you feel, so if you want to leave, we'll get up and go. No questions asked."

He thought about Effie...Johanna...Portia, flashed a looked towards Finnick who was biting at his thumb nail, and said, "No, Katniss. I can do this as long as..." he dropped his head downward, then raised his eyes up, "...I was going to say something after that, but I don't remember what."

"You were going to say that you could do it as long as we do it together...that we can do anything together," Katniss tucked a few strands of perfectly coiffed hair behind his ear. "See, we always say that when we get scared, or we're worried about facing something alone, but then we remember...we never have to be alone again because we swore we'd always face things together." She saw him visibly gulp, then gave him a timid grin. "I'm going to tell you a story. It's about a boy and a girl, and a stalled elevator." Katniss remembered the day well, she remembered every one of those days, but this one in particular was the day she thought of as the day her life began. "The first time I met you was in an elevator shaft in District Twelve. You see, each year..." Katniss went on to describe what had happened the day she officially met Peeta Mellark to the world, as Peeta remembered something she never knew.

The elevator in the mine shaft was frozen in place. The coalmine they were required by the school to tour each year, was below them, the exit above them. Katniss had been petrified of their situation, and Peeta couldn't blame her. Her father had died in an explosion there, but somehow he was able to calm Katniss down, and they were actually having a conversation. This was his one and only chance. Prim, who he had secretly befriended, had suggested to Peeta that he talk to Katniss while they went to the mines, but Peeta had been afraid to. He had been terrified to talk to her his entire life, but the elevator getting stuck was like a sign. He searched for the courage he had lacked since he was five and decided to lay his heart out on the line. Telling her about the first time he heard her sing, and how he had watched her walk home from school every single day.

"Peeta," Katniss said with an edge to her voice. "I really don't want to get involved with anyone this way. I'm not interested in having a boyfriend."

"What about a friend?" He had to start somewhere. "Can we be friends?"

It took her a minute before answering, "I suppose."

"Close friends?" Peeta asked with hope in his voice.

"Yes." The blush that crept up on her cheeks made Peeta's heart leap to his throat. "I don't normally hold my friend's hands though," she said without looking at him.

He glanced down at their joined hands and thought he'd be happy to stay that way forever. The simple fact that she had allowed him to do that shocked him. "Then maybe we should classify this as a special friendship?"

"Peeta…" there was a tone of warning in her voice.

"Katniss…I like you. A lot, but if you can honestly sit there and tell me you don't like me then I'll let go of your hand, and when we leave this elevator I'll walk away from you and not give you a second thought." It was a lie. He had been trying to forget his feelings for her for years, yet they just grew stronger and stronger.

His heart raced as gray eyes took each of his features in. It was like she was looking right through him...trying to decide whether or not he was worth the risk. Peeta could almost hear her brain working at high speed. When she released his hand, he felt his heart shatter into a million pieces. His mother had hurt him his entire life, but the pain he felt now was worse than any his mother had ever caused.

"Peeta." Katniss took his hand again, and a tender smile blossomed on Peeta's face as she said, "I must be crazy."

His thumb brushed against her hand...moved slowly back and forth over and over again. The hairs on Peeta's arms stood on end when he brushed it across the inside of her wrist. A loud clacking noise interrupted their moment of silence. The elevator began moving upward, precious seconds ticked away as he dug deep and asked, "Will you meet me tomorrow? During lunch? Behind the oak tree?"

"Yes," She whispered to him. They let go of each other's hands just as the doors opened.

He watched her back as she made her way through the crowd that had gathered at the mine's entrance. "Peeta," his dad called out to him. "You okay, son? We've been worried about you."

Katniss pushed past a few miners, ignored the concern several of them showed to her, and walked with determination in each step. "She said yes," Peeta had never felt happiness like he had in that moment.

"Who said yes?" His dad asked, but Peeta didn't hear a word.

'I never thought this would happen,' he walked blindly towards his parent's bakery with his mind going a mile a minute. 'Katniss is going to go on a date with me,' his eyes perked up and searched for her in the distance. 'You're going to show up, right?' He worried briefly then thought, 'Yeah...you will. It's not in you to say you'll do something then go back on it.'

"Peeta, are you okay?" His dad gave him a little shake.

"Hey dad," Peeta turned towards the sound of his father's voice. "When did you get here?"

"I've been walking with you since we left the mines."

Peeta turned around and noticed how far away they were from their origin. "Sorry pops. I had something else on my mind."

His dad gave him a knowing grin and said, "Someone is more like it."

"I guess," Peeta said shyly. His father knew since the first day of kindergarten how Peeta felt about Katniss. Peeta had walked up to his dad after school and said, "Papa, you were right about that girl. She sang today in class." His five year old mouth spoke without thinking, "I'm gonna be just like her mommy and marry someone that makes the birds fall silent. I'm gonna marry Katniss Everdeen."

Peeta glanced at the much older version of the little girl he had heard sing, and felt a tug at his heartstrings. 'I'm gonna marry Katniss Everdeen,' he thought to himself behind a boyish grin.

"So you see?" Katniss grinned back at Peeta, "You gave me hope back then, and even when we went into the arena together...when I was certain I was going to lose you, somehow you still gave me hope that we could make it through as long as we were together. Whenever I was in your arms I felt...safe, secure, and now I feel...," She lifted her face to the sky, ran a hand over her daughter taking in the scent of the burgeoning autumn air, "...free." Katniss finally faced the cameras, "President Snow once said to me that the districts were fragile. I didn't understand what he meant back then, I was too frightened to really think about it, but now I know what he meant. You see, it wasn't the districts that were fragile, it was the Capitol. The districts...we're strong. We know how to survive, but the Capitol...they rely on us for everything. For their food, clothing, electronics..." she arched a brow, "...entertainment, but not anymore. Thanks to you President Snow I'm declaring my freedom today. Not just mine, but..." she turned to Peeta who gave her a nod, and turned his palm upward in order to hold her hand in his before Katniss continued, "We're declaring our daughter's freedom today." There was a mixture of sounds coming from the set, most of which were gasps.

Peeta took over where Katniss left off. "Our daughter will not have to face the fear of being reaped, of going into the arena, because let's face it, we all know she would have been in there." Peeta gave the camera a little gleam, and the man that could have easily taken over for Caesar Flickerman magically appeared. "It would have been just a little tooooo tempting to have the child of two victors in the arena, and the Star-Crossed-Lovers?" Peeta feigned shock, "Why what a surprise it would have been to the nation in...what...twelve years, if her name was pulled from the reaping ball?" He sat back and crossed a leg over his knee. "I don't think so, Snow." It was Peeta's turn to let the world in on a little secret. "Now let me tell you about the girl sitting to my left," he stole a peek at her before admitting out loud, "I know her name is Katniss Everdeen, but what I've been told is that her name is Katniss Mellark." Peeta gave his shoulder a little jerk. "I married her, but I don't remember our wedding." He lifted his face to the crowd then pointed. "That guy out there," the camera quickly panned around to show his father then back to Peeta. "Snow told me my dad was dead, yet I come here and there he is...my father...big as day...having to tell me that I was in love with Katniss my whole life long. Describing my wedding day for me and how the Mayor of District Twelve went against everything the Capitol stood for to marry us because even one of his own officials believed in how much she and I loved each other, and that we deserved something that belonged to just us, but..." Peeta faced Katniss, "I don't remember much of it," then faced the camera again, "because President Snow wanted to use me to kill Katniss." He told them as much as he could about being drugged, but left out how Effie had helped him through it, only saying that he fought the effects on his own. "Yet here I sit, and yes...I can honestly say, Snow momentarily got his way. I don't remember marrying this girl, or creating that life she's carrying," Peeta faced Katniss and took her hands, "but I can tell you this much. There are things I haven't forgotten, but more importantly there are things I've learned about you that have me completely mesmerized." Peeta held her gaze and listed off the little traits that had been causing him to lose sleep. "I love the way you smell...like fresh air...pine..." he lifted his nose in the air, and closed his eyes for a moment then met hers again, "...like a mixture of sunshine and autumn. When you walk you always look like you've got someplace important to go, even if it's just across the room, but you do it without making a sound, which I find absolutely amazing. You have one of the worst tempers I've ever seen on a person, and I was held prisoner at the Capitol, so that's saying something," he grinned at her when she blushed and smiled, "but God, how it drives me crazy…in a good way. I've literally watched people rolling their eyes at you and your attitude, and all I want to do is tell them how stupid they are for not seeing how special that makes you. Then there's that total contradiction that really shocks the hell out of me. That girl that loves me so much she'd do anything for me, even live a lie," his eyes flashed down to her stomach then back up again. "There's something so soft about you, but you don't let just anyone see it, and I find that completely fascinating." Katniss could feel her heart racing with each and every word coming out of his mouth. This was the man she knew, the boy she had fallen in love with. "Then there's your voice..." Peeta thought it was way too soon to tell her how he felt when he heard her sing, but he did say, "Did you know the birds fall silent when you sing?"

Katniss sucked in a little breath and nodded her head. "Yeah," she answered.

"I guess what I'm saying is...Katniss, Snow got his way for about a minute. I don't want to lose what we had." The cameras no longer existed, nor did the people watching them, glued to their televisions across the nation. "I don't even want what we once had, I want something new...better. So, I was wondering..." he jiggled her hand in his, "Katniss," he brushed his thumb back and forth across her wrist like the first time he held her hand, and asked, "will you meet me tomorrow? During lunch?" Then mouthed so no one else would know where, "Behind the oak tree?" He lifted the corner of his mouth in a grin.

She bit the corner of her lip and smiled softly at the same time, "Yes," she paused. "I should probably tell you though...I'm a married woman."

"I'm not worried about your husband." He ducked his head down and whispered loudly, "I think he'll be all for this arrangement."

"Oh, and I'm pregnant...with a little girl."

He faced her with eyes full of hope. "A little girl," he said as if mystified.

"Yeah, a little girl."

"Got any names picked out for her?" Peeta stood up and squeezed her hand.

"Yup. One, but that can always change." Their lives were different now, their past no longer meant as much as their future did, so maybe choosing a new name for their daughter wouldn't be such a bad thing. "I normally eat a lot," Katniss said with a hint of teasing in her tone.

"I hadn't noticed," Peeta's brow furrowed. "Now that I think of it...maybe I should avoid taking you on a date that includes a meal." He saw the way she arched her brow at him, and Peeta suddenly felt like he and Katniss had accomplished something important. They had become friends. "Not sure why, but...I think I might actually like you, Katniss," the expression on his face clearly read love, his fingers interlocked with hers said the same.

"Yeah...you're all right too," she bumped her shoulder up against his. For the first time since he had arrived in Thirteen, she felt like she had her husband back. "Welcome home, Peeta."

"Good to be back." There was one more thing he needed to say, but this message was directed to someone specific. Peeta faced the camera, his eyes pierced the lens, and said, "President Snow, I gave you some advice when you were torturing me…told you to kill me while you had the chance or I'd kill you." Peeta paused before adding, "You should have listened to me, because…I'm a man of my word."

As they walked off the set, proud of what they accomplished, not only because it was sure to have captivated the viewing audience, but because they had faced up to some serious issues that would help them mend their wounded hearts, they heard Plutarch and Finnick speaking loudly with one another. Peeta dropped Katniss' hand and rushed to Finnick's side, "You don't' have to do this." It was like he knew something Katniss didn't.

"If it'll help Annie, then I want to."

Peeta gave Finnick a rap on the shoulder, then walked with his back hunched over towards Katniss. "Sometimes I wish this was one of the memories Snow stole from me." They listened to Finnick telling tales of being sold. The strange sexual appetites of those at the Capitol, and Katniss gripped Peeta's hand tightly, turned her face into his shoulder, and forced herself to hold back the tears. She and Peeta had always guessed that the designs Cinna had created for her to wear for their 'honeymoon,' were really for other reasons, but hearing Finnick say it out loud, telling the world about the way his body was used by the people in the Capitol, caused Katniss' skin to crawl.

"That would have been me," she whispered into Peeta's chest. She felt him rub his hand up and down her spine, providing her with strength, then she heard Finnick saying something about not taking money for his services, how he wanted something much more valuable. Katniss' spine straightened as she thought, 'secrets,' remembering their very first conversation together the day of the Tribute Parade.

The entire set was captivated by Finnick's words. It was as though Katniss and Peeta had been the aperitif to Finnick's main course, and oh what a tantalizing meal he served up, President Snow on a platter. As the world listened to his rise to power, the reason he kept his position for so long, and the secret to his success...poison, Beetee battled with the Capitol to keep control over the broadcast which hadn't been very difficult since Peeta began speaking about the torture Snow had put him through, however it grew relentless towards the end of Finnick's monologue.

"That's it! Let it go!" Beetee said in a huff as though he had just sprinted a marathon. "If they haven't gotten out by now, then they're all dead."

"Well," Plutarch looked pleased, but not as enthusiastic as he normally did with a good shoot, "I'd say that went swimmingly." He held his hand out, "I'll return your earpiece, Peeta."

Katniss watched as Peeta dug something tiny out of his ear. "Thanks..." he lifted his eyes to Plutarch's, "...for everything. It helped."

As Plutarch walked away Katniss asked Peeta, "What was that earpiece for?"

He was hoping he could return it without her ever finding out. "Plutarch thought it would be best if I talked about you...let Snow know that he didn't break us after all, and...um..." He could tell from the way Katniss' face morphed that she was quickly growing angry with him. "Look, Katniss, we both know I don't remember much about you. All Plutarch did was feed me a couple of things to..."

"Oh my God," she ripped her hand from his. "It was an act!? That was all an act!?"

"Not all of it. None of it, actually," Peeta wasn't sure how to dig himself out of the hole he had dug. "Katniss, all he did was ask me about you. Kind of...prompt me, but that's it."

"So, he asked you to...what? Talk about the way I...smelled!" Her hands were up in the air as she turned on her heels to walk away. "I should've known. Stupid," she grumbled to herself. "Get out of my way," her voice was low, a scowl plastered on her face as Peeta stepped in her path. "I have nothing to say to you."

"Why are you so mad at me? It's not like I was pretending or anything."

With her left eye twitching in anger she asked, "Whose idea was it to ask me out on a date?" The expression that crossed Peeta's face was all the answer she needed to hear. She turned her glare towards Plutarch, then back at Peeta. "Guess the Star-Crossed-Lovers are back on the air. God knows they were great for his ratings the first time around."

"Katniss...I was planning on asking you, but not on camera," Peeta felt deflated. "Please don't walk away."

"I have to." She kept her back to him. "I can't face you right now, Peeta." It was too painful even being in his presence.

"Why not? Let's talk this out."

"Fine," she turned to him, her face was stone. "You want to talk, then I'll talk. I have no desire to be with someone, especially you, because I'm pregnant and you think I can't survive without you."

Peeta's brow furrowed. "What gave you the impression..."

"I heard you!" She yelled, and a group of people turned to see what was happening. "You said you'd stay with me during the pregnancy...don't bother," she spat out at him, "I don't need you. Don't want you. I'll do what I have to for the cameras, but other than that...you and me, let's just call this what it is."

A terrible sense of dread consumed Peeta as he asked, "And what is it?"

Katniss searched for and barely found the courage she needed to prevent her heart from taking any more beatings. There was no pain in her voice, she couldn't afford to show it. She held her chin up high and said quietly, "It's over." Just as she was about to turn away she saw the look on Peeta's face. For a second she thought he was going to explode, until she saw who his gaze was directed at…President Coin.

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Thirteen's hovercraft zipped over Capitol airspace, shooting its weapons at the crafts coming towards them. "We're not going to make it!" Boggs screamed over his shoulder, unaccustomed to co-piloting such a large, up to date hovercraft.

"Effie," Mr. Tanner reached for her. "Get me to..."

"You are not moving, Mr. Tanner!" Effie's voice was trembling as she ordered him to stay put.

"We're...all going to die...if I don't..."

"What do you need, Hagar?" Johanna struggled to her feet and collapsed. "Son of a bitch! Somebody do what the guy wants! He can help us!"

Haymitch carefully eyed him up, "You gonna get us killed?" He pointed a finger at Tanner's nose.

"No, sir. Just...trying to save...Miss. Trink...Trinket."

"Oh, Please Haymitch," Effie complained as he lifted Steven up. "Don't move him."

"Where we going, boy?" Haymitch disregarded her request.

"Control panel...right side." Steven Tanner instructed Haymitch on how to remove it, but it was Effie that made her way over, taking the cover off like she had seen Mr. Tanner do from the outside of a craft before. Like she had done herself.

"Tell me what to do and for criminy's sake, someone give him something for the pain so I can understand what he's saying!" She wanted this over and done with so she could get him medical treatment.

A shot of something was plunged into his arm within seconds, suddenly Steven could speak without concentrating on the pain. "Remember what we did last time?" Mr. Tanner asked her.

"Yes," Effie answered.

"We're going to do something similar, except this time when you swipe your fingers after reprogramming, you're going to do it in the opposite direction. Immediately after you'll see a red light in the left hand corner. Push it, and hold it down for five seconds. Exactly five seconds or we'll fall out of the sky."

"You'll count?" She asked him as her fingers began to move over the control panel performing the task she had the night before Peeta had escaped.

"I'll count, Miss. Trinket."

"I'm almost...okay..." Effie swirled her fingers, ignoring the blasts that were being shot at them from the Capitol's crafts. "Red light!" She pressed her finger and Mr. Tanner started counting.

"...Two...Three...Four...NOW!"

Effie pulled her finger off of the button and the Capitol craft they were on received a surge of energy that shot them through the air, throwing anyone on two feet to the ground, and those on the ground to roll about the floor. Ten seconds. That's all it took. Ten seconds for all of their lives to change. For one man, a man who didn't believe in anything these people stood for, to save their lives. Steven Tanner lay face down at the base of the hovercraft's wall, unable to move, and ready to die if only he could. "Mi...Miss..." he tried to get her name out, but the strength he had only moments ago was now sapped from him.

"I'm here Mr. Tanner," Effie knelt by his side. "Haymitch...Gale...help me with him, will you please?" There was no medical team on board, but Lavinia did have some training as did Justus. The two signed back and forth to one another, making hand gestures Effie didn't understand the reason why one worked on Johanna and the other Steven, thinking they should both be concentrating on the patient with the worst injury. "Will he be alright?" Effie asked when Justus' rapidly moving fingers ceased to move over Mr. Tanner's wounds. A quick shake of a head was given, which Effie refused to take as an answer. "Well...then you need to do something more! Operate on him! Blood! He needs blood! Give him mine!" She began to shake...tremble as Haymitch wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her away from the Peacekeeper that had risked his life for her.

"Come on, let's give the guy a minute with Johanna," Haymitch said quietly in Effie's ear.

"No I..." Effie started to bellow like a fishwife until she noticed Steven and Johanna's index fingers linked together. "Oh, Haymitch," she threw her arms around his neck and cried for the impending death that could not be prevented.

"Give us a minute..." Steven asked of Justus and Lavinia. He rolled his head towards the girl he had been a fan of since seeing her in the Games he should have been a part of, wondering if this was the reason why he had never been sent into the arena. If he was supposed to be here, if he was supposed to sacrifice his life so Johanna and Effie could live. Whether or not that was the reason Wondra was chosen as the tribute in Johanna's Games, no longer mattered. Steven Tanner now knew his life had a purpose, he had done what he had set out to do, followed through on the oath that he had taken, and protected two women...three, he thought of Annie, that honestly didn't deserve what President Snow was doing to them. "You're going to be alright now."

"No thanks to your stupidity," Johanna was pissed as hell at him for getting shot. "What the hell'd ya have to go and get in the way of that weapon for?"

"Not my fault your guys thought I was the enemy," Steven's attempt at a smile fell flat when Johanna glared towards Gale. "Hey...hey," Johanna turned her focus back to him, "it's not his fault. He was trying to save your lives. I would have done the same, and so would you."

There was no arguing his point. Johanna knew he was right. She would have shot first and asked questions later. "Yeah...well...I don't have to be happy about it."

"It's not like I'm thrilled with the circumstances either Jo." Steven saw her lift the corner of her mouth in a tiny grin. "You smile? I didn't think you allowed yourself to smile," he threw a version of her words back at her.

"No one's called me Jo since my mother was alive." Now Johanna was absolutely furious. "Damn you, Hagar, what the hell do you have to go and die for!? Can't you just...fight this shit!? Live!"

"I'm trying," he choked as he said it and felt his legs going numb. "It's going to be over soon, Jo."

"We'll be in Thirteen soon. Just hang on a little longer, and you'll be fine."

"Did I ever tell you how I used to dream about meeting you? The great Johanna Mason. You were really something during your Games. I used to think, if only there were girls in District Two like you then maybe I'd be like my parents...work in the quarry...settle down."

"I'm not the settling down type," Johanna arched a brow at him, "but it does sound kinda nice."

The air was getting thicker. Deep breaths were a thing of the past. He had to hurry if he was going to say all he needed to before he took his last one. "It could have been something good...you and me...if we didn't kill each other first."

Death. It was a vicious thing. In some instances it could be merciful, but Johanna had never experienced it in that manner. Every death she had been witness to had been cruel, including the ones she had caused. Death always seemed to bring out the worst in people, and for the first time in Johanna Mason's life, it brought out the best in her. "It coulda been great, Hagar. The fighting would've been an added bonus," she briefly thought of Katniss telling her about her and Peeta making up after their angry bouts. "It coulda been something special." The finger she had hooked with his curled. She had never kissed this man, never hugged him, never even touched him in an intimate manner other than the two fingers that linked them together, yet Johanna knew losing him was going to make a lasting impression on her life. "The first time I saw you I thought of a story my mother used to tell me, she liked to tell stories, and Hagar the Horrible was one of the characters in her tales. A man who had been hated by everyone in his village because of his position with the King's guard…feared by all…and the second I laid eyes on you, that's who I thought of."

"You didn't seem to be afraid of me when you first met me."

Johanna's eye's drifted towards his. "The thing about Hagar…he had a soft spot for the villagers, and would leave packages of food at their doorsteps when night would fall."

"Sounds like a good guy?"

"He was…" Johanna curled her finger against his, "…you are, Hagar."

Steven gave her one parting look and said, "Take care of yourself, Jo." She gave him a small nod as he let out another cough and called for Effie and Haymitch. "Miss. Trinket, I'm not going to make it all the way to Thirteen with you."

Effie ran a hand over his sweat covered brow. "Oh, Mr. Tanner, please do not die for me." Silent tears were dripping down her cheeks.

Steven Tanner still had a job to do. "Mr. Abernathy, I need something from you."

"Yeah...sure kid." Haymitch was willing to do anything the boy wanted. Effie had told them all what the kid had done for her while Steven was talking with Johanna. "You name it."

"Place your left hand over your heart, and your right one in the air." He waited until Haymitch did what he was told. "Repeat after me," Steven took as deep of a breath as he could and sputtered out a cough, this time bits of blood splashed out onto the corners of his mouth. "I, Haymitch Abernathy," Haymitch repeated his name. "Do solemnly swear..."

"Do solemnly swear..." Haymitch said, and Johanna joined quietly in.

"To sacrifice my life for the safety of Effie Trinket..." Effie sucked in her sob when she listened to Steven then released it when she heard what happened next.

Haymitch and Johanna's voices were joined by the majority of their rescue team who were now kneeling around Steven with their hands over their hearts, except for the pilot, Boggs and Gale. "To sacrifice my life for the safety of Effie Trinket. To ensure her wellbeing, to protect and serve Effie Trinket as she works to bring justice..." The group repeated the oath that Steven Tanner had taken, "...to this great nation for as long as she lives." The words took on new meaning for Steven Tanner that day. He looked around at the people who were supposed to be his sworn enemies, all of them pledging themselves to uphold the promise he could no longer keep. He had spent his entire life searching for something...a sense of pride...a purpose...meaning, and found it in the last seconds amongst those that he was told were his mortal enemies. As Steven took one last look at Johanna, Effie's words came back to him.

"Everything you've ever believed in is suddenly coming into question, isn't it? I'm afraid it doesn't get any easier with the exception of one thing...eventually you realize what's right and what's wrong, and you come to terms with that. You realize that everyone deserves the right to live their life the way they want, and not as servants...as slaves. That children should never be put to death as punishment for something that happened over seventy-five years ago."

"Miss. Trinket," he held his hand out to her. "You were right. I know what's right and what's wrong no..." Steven Tanner's eyes glassed over, his last miniscule breath sucked into collapsed lungs. He had started off his life training as a tribute, then lived it as a highly adept Peacekeeper...an enemy to the districts. But today...today Steven Tanner laid down his life not only for the woman he swore to protect, but for a group of people that were fighting against everything he stood for.