A/N - Hello dear ones! Chapter 8 is ready for you! Lot's of information concerning the finding of Panem, so I hope you like my take on how I thought it might have played out. There will be more talk about it in future chapters. I started, near the end, writing about the sleepover but it will take place in the next chapter(9) as well as Gale's 'surprise' for Katniss.

Catapapalilar x3- Thank you for your review, I don't mind criticism as long as it's friendly, and your's was! Okay.. as far as them always being mad, fighting ect. Me, personally, always thought that if they did ever get together as a couple that they would disagree often. Even Katniss said something like that about them in Catching Fire. My sister said that if Prim didn't get reaped that they would have gotten married, and I agree. But I always thought they would have marriage problems or often have disagreements and small arguments. Of course they love each other and are close, so when I write them that way its just how I feel personally how they would act once they were married. And as far as them yelling at each other one minute and kissing the next, It's because of that 'bond' they can't be mad at each other very long. And the real big fight I'm planning hasn't even started between them yet, but that won't be for at least a few more chapters. If you want to talk about it, feel free to PM me!:) Occy3- Les Mis is ALL worth it ;) ;)

As far as any of my grammar and/or spelling mistakes, I have a dear reviewer of mine who is offering to help me in this area. So you should start seeing improvements very soon. I'm very sorry for them!

POLL: I have a poll up asking for you to pick some of your favorite boy names. I have a few characters that will be coming up that are male. So I want to know what names you like. You can find it on my profile page, I believe at the top. PLEASE vote, I want to know what you guys like! :)

Anywho, long A/N but thank you EVERYONE for all the kind and helpful reviews, I cherish each one of them! Chapter 9 will be up tomorrow sometime. Until then, enjoy Chapter 8 and reviews are always helpful! Hope everyone had a nice Mothers Day. Much love - Macayla (No chapter 9 preview this time)

The man is still weeping quietly and I'm unsure of what to do or say. I still have my one unanswered question, but should I ask? I think it would only upset him more. Gale clearers his throat before speaking-

"Were sorry. That we asked." He says quietly.

It's as though someone turned on a bright light inside of him. He lifts his head from his hands and looks to the three of us, his crying ceasing.

"It's ok." He replies, giving a hint of a smile under his beard. This man definitely has emotional problems.

As Gale and I begin to collect the dirty plates and clean the table and kitchen, Mr. Hawk starts telling Prim about this place that was once called 'New York'. He speaks nothing about the war, or his family so I tune the conversation out. Gale insist they go into the living room so we won't have to work around them.

"That was interesting, all what he said." Gale says in a hushed voice as were washing the dishes.

"Yeah, it was." I reply. Contemplating telling him of my question.

"I wonder who those… men would be?" He asks. To late, he read my mind, yet again.

"Me too!" I say back quickly. There's no missing the urgent tone in my voice.

I don't really have any clue as to why this question is bothering me this much. They've never told us about men attacking our country. Could this old man just be making it up? It wouldn't surprise me. I tell Gale this though-

"He could be making it up though? In his old age." I say, almost hoping he'll disagree.

"Maybe, but I doubt it." He says shrugging.

We quickly finish clearing the table and cleaning the dishes. Once were finished we join Prim and Mr. Hawk in the living room. Prim is sprawled out on the couch and Mr. Hawk is sitting comfortable in the arm chair.

"…. big, big, buildings. And a huge stature of a woman holding a book and a lighted torch… I think." He says as Gale and I take a seat on the opposite couch. He rubs his head in confusion. "Yeah, yeah. There was!" He says excitingly.

His face is completely lit up as he is talking about this place that once existed. He continues to go on about this place. I pull my legs onto the couch, resting my head in Gale's lap as I listen to the man. This place sounds fascinating to me. Nothing like here. I almost begin to doze off when Prim asks a question

"So what did you do?" She asks.

I open my closed eyes and see Mr. Hawks stoned expression. He gulps loudly before answering, and gives another hearty laugh. I think he does that when he's nervous.

"Well…" He stutters. "I worked in this big building… I.. loved the city… I didn't like my job very much, though." He says, avoiding more information. Prim squints her eyes.

"What was your job?" She asks in her most innocent voice. He gulps loudly again.

"I… I… It… was a complicated job. Nothing you'd understand." He says quickly.

I can hear the panic in his voice. Whatever he did, he doesn't want us knowing. It has to do with more then his family and painful memories. Prim nods her head in complete disappointment.

"Prim, will you go over and get my brothers and Pos for me? Help them pack what they need for the night." Gale says.

Prim nods her head in answer and says a goodbye to Mr. Hawk, walking out the door and leaving the three of us.

"Ah, it was a wonderful night, thank you, but I must be goi-"

"So what really was your job?" Gale asks, harshly.

He must be thinking the same thing I am, this man is hiding something. He looks almost shocked at Gale's change of emotions and tone. He gently sits me up in a sitting position beside him, sitting himself up straighter. Gale's not going to let him go until he answers.

"I said it already, it was a complicated job." He says defensively but still keeping a calm tone.

Gale just looks at him intently, demanding an answer. Mr. Hawk takes a deep breath, looking to the ground and rubbing his beard.

"You're not leaving until you tell me." Gale says sternly.

I'm almost shocked at Gale's words. It's not something you typically say to a guest. But this is Gale… he means it. I can almost see the man sweating behind his face full of hair. Gale is losing his patience I can tell. Gale goes to open his mouth but Mr. Hawk speaks first, blurting out the words-

"I worked for the President's assassins." He says, almost hanging his head in shame. He doesn't quit speaking though- "Those 'men' were a group of people against our own country. I made some poor choices kid." He says, tapping his foot on the floor nervously.

I'm amazed at his words and know there is still more, and thankfully he still keeps going.

"I was young and tired of living on my families farm.." He says, sounding yet again different from the crazed man I thought he was. "I moved to New York, not a dime in my damn pockets. I was seventeen and homeless in a city bigger then I thought it was. The people, they were mean. There was plenty of places to work, but I was under aged with a criminal history. There ain't no decent job there with my background. I was desperate, tired of living out of cardboard boxes and emptying bottles by the hour." He says, never meeting our eyes once.

Gale and I are leaning forward. My mind can't even think as I listen to this man-

"Now I was nineteen. I ain't lived in a home in nearly two years. The government was in complete distress, the President didn't even know what to do. A violent storm swept across New York, leaving that beautiful, sacred stature destroyed, destroying buildings as tall as the clouds. Shortly after the storm I was roam'n the streets when I came across a bar that looked closed in an ally way." He says.

I know what they are, but we don't have 'bars' here in twelve. Unless you count the crazy Saturday nights at Rippers alcohol stand at The Hob.

"I quickly realized that it was not empty. It was to late, I walked in and got… sucked in. It was a hate group, not more then twenty or thirty people in the room, dressed in black with white masks on. Oh they were scary, they scared the shit out of me. Especially when a few of them blocked the exit." He takes a deep breath. "They promised me, either immediate death or my safety if I'd agree to help them."

"Why would they kill you?" Gale asks.

"Because I saw them. They thought I'd tell the authorities and I would have. They told me of this plot… this plot to take over the country of America. And that there was more then just them." He says, nodding his head.

I feel like a little child, listening to a story. My mind still can't even think but only listen.

"They wanted to kill every American that walked the land. They promised my safety, and my future families safety if I'd agree to work for them. They'd get me a job, So I agreed." He leans in closer. "That was the worst damn decision of my damn life!" He shouts.

I feel Gale tense up just slightly beside me.

"But they did…" Mr. Hawk continues, bringing his voice back down. "They tracked my every move. Long story short kid, after some time they got me a job as the mayor of New York's V.P. of security. How the hell they managed that for me, I don't have a damn clue. My job was to report anything and everything about the government that I could. Being head of security, I knew every which way into the head quarters and so on. Some time passed…." He says, waving his hand. "when I fell in love. I married, knowing they said they guaranteed her safety. Three months later we were going to have a kid, twins." He says. "But they betrayed me! When they finally took out their plan… they didn't keep my family safe, they didn't keep me safe. After years of helping them they didn't keep their damn promise. And it's all my fault… it's my fault my families dead! He says shouting.

I'm almost speechless at his story and words. So these 'men' were nothing more then of their own country? Against their own kind?

"So how many did they kill?" Gale asks. I'm scared for the answer.

"Ever. Damn. One of us. Only a few hundred were left." He says, shaking his head.

"What made them stop?" I ask. He takes a deep breath before answering.

"The people that were left. They started to try to fight them. By this time…" He says, leaning back into the chair. "… they were on very little ammunition and all the crap they used to kill us. So they retreated." He says, avoiding eye contact

"To where?" Gale asks.

Mr. Hawk's gives yet another hearty laugh, his eyes widen as he's staring at the floor.

"They moved north, to Canada." He says.

I have never heard of this place so I let him continue-

"The people there already evacuated, leaving most of the small country abandoned. So they settled there, and renamed that land…"

He sits up straighter, finally meeting both Gale and I's intense gaze's. His words next words nearly knock the wind out of me, for a few seconds I can't breathe, I can't do anything but be shocked, stunned-

"Airgusta."

I hear Gale take a short, sharp breath in. These men are attacking us again. And if they succeed like their previous plain, were all be dead. I take a deep breath, looking away from the cold gaze he's both giving us.

"So how did Panem come out of all that?" Gale asks. I find myself covering my mouth with my hand, still in shocked.

"Well, we were left with noth'n. The vast land was completely destroyed, noth'n remained. You could hear babies crying in the distance. All the building's were flattened, the land was completely flat. You could see for miles and miles with your own eyes. There wasn't any power, water. No food. We were wounded, hungry and cold. Days passed and more died, peeled over from infection and starvation. We started a mass grave. And we waited… waited for hope." He says, another tear spilling down his cheek.

"So how did it come?" Gale asks in a calm voice. Mr. Hawk looks up from his hands and at Gale.

"We waited for something. For someone. So a young boy stood up, took a stand. Started pep talked us. Said this isn't how we should all die. We were Americans. So we set out, our group was a bit under a hundred, but we set out, finding more survivors. Started leaning the ways of nature for food and medicine."

Just like Gale and I do now, I think to myself.

"By the end of a long, long journey, we had gathered every living soul left on that land. We were left with at least three hundred, maybe four. So that same young boy stood up still, leading us to a new beginning. A new hope. We were in the land of Colorado, this is where we set up our own colony. We lived off the land again, breeding like wild fire. That boy we called the President… the President of our new country, Panem."

"Snow?" I ask. Speaking of our own, elderly, cruel President. He's been the only President Panem has known.

"Yes, Coriolanus Snow. He was a young fella, no older them myself. When we started to grow in number, he decided we needed to fill the land again, that's when he drew a map, sectioning it off into thirteen 'Districts' and he named the place we were in, the 'Capitol'. So people started going out, to their own designated 'District'. It would take them days, weeks even months to get to their place, but when they all did they realized the land wasn't the same. But they learned, with the new land, to strive off of it. Using what they could from their surroundings."

That would explain why each District has a particular 'duty' for the Capitol. I lean forward, placing my elbows on my knees. This isn't the stuff they teach us in school.

"So long story short kids. He turned somewhat evil, we started to thrive in the 'Capitol', building up the buildings, getting power back to us, building roads and cars, setting up our own form of government and law enforcement. But he left the rest of the land untouched. It wasn't until President Snow demanded each District to offer up some of their own hard earned tasks that he became a changed man. Over the next years we strived more, building our population from hundred to thousands, tens of thousands. Those hard working men and women in the Districts worked day and night to please us in the Capitol."

Gale and I are practically, no, literally sitting on the edge of the couch, not daring to interrupt him. There's a lot their not teaching us in school… I wonder why?

"So they got tired, tired of us boss'n them around. So they rebelled. They failed though, losing a District in the process. That my children, is how the Hunger Games started." He says, nodding is head.

I'm at a loose for words. What are you supposed to say after being told of something like that? I can literally feel my heart in the stomach. I have more unanswered questions now.

"So who really are you?" I ask, remembering he said '…just call me Mr. Hawk'.

He takes a long ridged breath in before he answers. He doesn't answer right away, he looks to the floor as though he's deciding to tell us or not. He finally looks up to us, into my eyes and answers just as the front door opens with the kids-

"I'm Platon Snow."

XX

Shocked? Stunned? Speechless? Unable to breath? I'm all of these. As if the previous news wasn't a shock enough, I just learned that a relative of our own cruel, evil President is sitting in my living room.

"Mr. Hawk! Your still here!" Says Prim excitingly. Rory, Vick and Posy are at the table, dropping their overnight bags onto it.

"Oh, I was just leaving sweetheart." He says as he grabs his cane from the side of the chair and slowly rises from his seat.

It takes him several seconds for him to even find his footing, of course Prim comes over and helps him. 'Only if you knew who he was Prim', I think to myself. But just because he's related to someone evil, doesn't mean he's evil. Gale and I stand in unison and I wipe the sweat off my hands on my pants. Prim helps him to the door, the two of us walking behind. Gale's siblings are still at the table, taking items out from their bags, not even paying attention to the guest we have leaving. Mr. Hawk… doesn't say anything to them so I don't introduce them and neither does Gale. Prim opens the front door, the last bit of the dusk sunshine hitting the two of them, and moves to the side, allowing him to see Gale and I.

"Thank you for the lovely dinner. Were talk about it more soon." He says, then he's out the door.

Prim shuts the door the turns toward us.

"What's wrong?" She asks, taking a few steps closer to me and Gale.

I hadn't realized it, but Gale is holding my hand and I must have a shocked expression on my face.

"Nothing." Gale answers cheery.

Prim wasn't necessarily talking to him but she accepts the answer and joins the boys and Posy at the table. I look over to Gale and he slips both of his arms around my waist, bringing his lips to my ear-

"Don't let what he said bother you tonight, aright? Let's just have fun." Gale whispers. I nod my head in reply.

Just as Gale is bringing his lips to mine there's a bloody murder scream from behind us, Gale and I both pull apart in panic and I turn around. I start laughing immediately… Rory has Vick pinned to the ground. Rory has a smirk but Vick is full out laughing. I look over to the table to see Posy pulling out something from her bag.

"What you got there Pos?" Gale asks, wrapping his arms around my waist again, his chest touching my back.

She runs up to us, practically bumping into me and she's holding two glass jars with dirt in them. Their clutched to her like someone might take them. But when I hold out my hand, she willingly gives me one of the jars.

"Dirt?" I ask, tying to hide my laugh.

"No!" She says defensively

She takes it back, setting the other jar gently on the ground. She takes the jar I gave back and gently, just slightly shakes it, moving the dirt around. She gasps when she stops shifting the dirt.

"There there are!" She shouts.

She holds out the jar to me and I pull it up to my face to look inside. Low and behold there's three, good sized lizards starring back at me. I start laughing and so does Gale.

"So what's in the other one, Princess?" He asks.

She picks it up, shifting the dirt around again. She sticks her tongue out on the side of her mouth, concentrating with finding the animal inside. She gasps again when she finds it-

"A frog!" She says, holding it up for Gale to see. He just nods his head and chuckles in reply.

I hang the jar in my hand back to Posy, but when I do her little fingers slip around it, making the glass jar shatter on the floor, sending the three lizards scurrying off into the house. I can't help but laugh at the scene that's taking place: Vick screams yet again and yanks Rory off of him, joining Prim with standing on the chairs at the table. Then there's Rory that's cracking up laughing on the ground. And then finally you have Posy who's running in their direction, screaming too. The house is filled with laughter and screaming. Gale leans his head forward and brings his lips to my ears again-

"I think were in for it tonight!". . . . . . . . . . . .

*Don't forget to vote on the poll!