So a few things... I'm not jumping directly into the story, doing a little background into Katniss and Peeta's friendship. (Maybe one more chapter before getting into the actual plot) I'll try not to drag it out, but I don't want to just jump into them being good friends and do flashbacks, I might have them if necessary but I don't want to rely on them to give an in depth history. So here we go!

...

12 years old

I am awoken by my thin mattress dipping under the slight weight of my sister, Prim. She had taken to sleeping with our mother after dad died, but sometimes would find her way back to the bed we used to share. She says mom doesn't snuggle her anymore.

I roll over and take in the wide eyed, sleep messed hair that could be my sister and try not to laugh. "Is that you, little duck?" I whisper while I smooth out her hair. "There, that's better. I can see you now." Prim scoots her body closer to me and covers up in the threadbare blanket. "Are you going to die tomorrow?" I prop myself up with my elbow and furrow my brows. "Who said that?" Prim shrugs. "Judy Grayson said that Seam brats always get picked, and that if you got picked you'd be dead before the first day was over." She looks at me, her blue eyes filled with tears. "Is that going to happen? If you die, who is going to take care of me?" I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head. "Everything is going to be fine, Prim. I'm not going to be called tomorrow. And even if I did, I would come home, I've got to take care of my little duck. And besides, you'll have Hazel and the kids to play with." I stroke her hair behind her ears and listen to my mother lightly snoring in the bed on the other side of the room. I wish she were awake for this, she needs to hear how scared Prim is. She needs her mother. I learned about two months after daddy died that I couldn't depend on her. It's like she died right along with him. She took to her bed the day it happened and hasn't really left it since.

"Who will take care of mommy?" Prim's voice just above a whisper. "Mommy will have to take care of herself." I look to the window and see the sky is turning a steely grey with the rising sun. "Alright, little duck, back to sleep with you. We've got a big day, Peeta's coming over in the afternoon for a picnic. You don't want to be tired and cranky do you?" Her little face beams and she smiles widely. "Oh, no, Peeta's doesn't like it when I'm cranky. He says it makes him sad to see me not smiling." She says, her little body practically vibrating with excitement. "Well then," I say poking her nose. "Let's get a bit more sleep before we get up for the day. You can tell him that joke you learned yesterday." Prim nods her head and burrows into my side.

...

After I make sure Prim has breakfast, I try one more time to get my mother to eat. She is huddled under her blankets staring blankly at the wall, I set the small bowl of vegetable soup on the table by the bed. "You have to eat something, mom. I haven't seen you eat anything in three days," She still stares at the wall. I take her hand and try a gentler approach, "Mom, please, you need to eat. Maybe you could even come to the table. I bet Prim would like that." When she still doesn't acknowledge me I rip my hand away from hers, burning anger coursing through me. "Fine, starve yourself. See if I care!" I yell at her prone form before stomping out of the room.

I busy myself in the kitchen cleaning until Peeta knocks on the door. I hear the patter of Prim's small feet scurrying to the door, she throws it open and I hear her squeal. "Peeta!" I walk to the door just in time to see her catapult her tiny frame into his arms. "Prim," I light scold her. "give Peeta a chance to catch you before you throw yourself at him."

Peeta smiles at me before turning his blue eyes down to the bundle in his arms. "I don't mind, I always catch you don't I, Rose?" He says rubbing the top of her head. It only took two times of Peeta meeting Prim for him to fall in love with her. He has two older brothers, Bram and Rye, and he said that he always wanted a little sister. He said that Primrose- although a lovely name- just didn't fit her age, and Prim is what everyone else called her, he felt that she deserved a special name that only he could use. She's been his Rose ever since.

"Haven't dropped me yet!" She said smiling at him.

"Are you ready?" He asked smiling down at Prim. She smiled brightly at him and shook her head excitedly, and then danced passed him onto our small porch.

Peeta opened the small basket he had brought with him and pulled out a small piece of cake. "I know things with your mom are hard, but I thought maybe she might like this. It's not very fresh, but it's the only thing I could nab without my mom noticing."

His thoughtfulness always warmed my heart. His mother wasn't very nice, his older brothers were hormonal creeps- Mostly Rye, Bram was a little more reserved. Rye liked to make crude jokes about us always running off to the woods.- and his father was a quiet man. It was nice to know that Peeta had such a good heart.

"I wouldn't bother, but I suppose she'll eat it if she gets hungry enough." I said taking the small cake from him and putting it on the counter before joining him and Prim outside.

Prim had managed to convince him that she needed a piggyback ride, not that Peeta needed convincing, he'd do just about anything she asked.

The walk to the meadow was quick, we alternated between running (Prim's request) and speed walking. Once we reached a spot that Prim had deemed worthy of our picnic, Peeta dumped her onto the soft grass causing her to squeal with laughter.

"If I pick the flowers will you make them into crowns?" Prim asked, her crystal blue eyes dancing.

"Sure, little duck. Don't take too long, we need to eat."

Prim jumped up and began picking flowers. "Make sure you keep the stems long, duck!" I called after her. I turned my gaze to Peeta to see him pulling out the food he managed to swipe. Three cheese buns a cupcake and a few pouches of juice.

Prim returned and we ate while I showed her how to weave the stems together to make the crowns. She placed one on my head and then put on hers. "Do we look like princesses, Peeta?" She asked turning up her nose and fluffing her hair. I couldn't help the light chuckled that escapes my lips, she really did look like a snobby princess. "You're both lovely," Peeta said.

"Oh! Do you want to hear my joke, Peeta?" Prim asks excitedly.

"I would love to hear it, Rose."

"Ok, so a duck goes into a store to buy some stuff for his dry lips. The person working asks how he's going to pay for it. He tells her to put it on his bill. His bill! It's funny because ducks don't have lips!" She says laughing and clapping her hands.

Peeta chuckles at her. "That was very good,"

"I think I said it wrong, but Mrs. Andreas said that was a joke from when her grandmother was my age."

Peeta smiles at her and ruffles her hair.

Afterwards as we walked home Prim had run to catch up with Hazel and Rory, who stood in their front yard just a few houses away from ours. Leaving Peeta and I to walk together.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Peeta asked quietly.

"A little, but it's our first year, we'll be fine." I said, trying to convince both of us.

"And what if it's not?" He questioned stopping in front of my house.

"Don't think like that, Peeta. Everything will be ok. And when everything is done we'll pick berries and I can try and make a pie!" I said trying my best to sound cheerful.

Peeta smiled and nodded his head. "Ok, tomorrow after the reaping we'll pick berries." He smiled again but it didn't reach his eyes. I reached out and pulled him into a hug.

"We'll be fine, nothing to worry about."

He pulled away and wiped at his damp eyes, he said a quick goodbye and turned and ran home.

Prim and Hazel came back a few minutes after Peeta had left. "How's your friend?" Hazel asked looking concerned, there was no need for her to ask why Peeta was upset, this was Gale's third reaping, Hazel had to live through her own. Everyone is scared this time of year.

"He'll be alright. He's Merchant, he doesn't have to worry too much."

I may be young but I know how these Games work. They're set up for the poor to lose while the citizens with a higher class thrive. I have never held that against Peeta, you can't help the family you're born into. I said goodnight to Hazel and took Prim inside. I noticed the cake on the counter was gone, trying not I get my hopes up, I walked to the back of the house and peeked in the door. My mother lay on her bed, her wide unseeing eyes trained on the wall. Another night of cooking for Prim and trying to explain that mommy is too sick to tell her a bedtime story.

...

I wake just before the sun rises, it's reaping day and I have to make sure there is food to eat in case I don't come home today. Hazel has offered to keep Prim this morning until after the reaping. She tries to help when she can, but with four children at home there was only so much she could do. She would sometimes come over to help tidy up and bring us some dinner if there was any left over.

I roll on my side and look over to my mothers bed, she is, as usual, facing the wall and Prim is huddled behind her, a small hand clutched to the back of her night shirt. She has no clue just how much Prim needs her.

I climb out of bed and slip into a pair of worn trousers and put on the old pair of boots I traded three squirrels for at The Hob. They were old and the heels had been worn down on one side, making it difficult to walk at first, but I've gotten used to it.

After I've dressed and gathered some clothes for Prim, I wake her and she gets dressed in silence, and gives our mother a kiss before she exits the room. I don't bother looking in her direction.

I make the walk quicker to the Hawthorns by having Prim hop on my back, Gale and I need to get these snares set up before the sun comes up too much, so we can practice with my fathers old bows he has stashed in the forest.

Hazel and Gale greet me at the door, Hazel takes Prim from my back and Gale and I head over to the fence.

Gale and I have known each other our whole lives, we don't feel the need for pointless chatter, so it's unsurprising that our journey to the fence is silent.

After slipping under the fence we make our way to the fallen tree that has my fathers bow tucked inside the hallow trunk. My bow is in another fallen tree a few yards away. Every time I see my fathers bow I wish I had paid more attention when he tried to teach me how to shoot. But I was a child who stupidly thought she had plenty of time to learn. Gale and I mostly rely on setting snares to get game, we set them and hike further into the trees to practice shooting. I've been able to get a few squirrels so far, but I want to be able to take down something bigger.

We had just sat down on our rock ledge after Gale had set the last snare when Gale clears his throat.

"I'm sure you're nervous, but it being your first year, you really shouldn't worry. You've got one slip." He says, trying to reassure me.

I turn to look at him, suddenly concerned for my friend. "And how many do you have?"

He look away from me before answering. "Twelve,"

This is where the reaping is unfair for those in the Seam, you are eligible for reaping the year you turn twelve. Your name gets written on a slip once, and then for your thirteenth year, two slips, and so on. You can have your name added more times in exchange for a meager supply of oil and grains called Tesserae, you can take out Tesserae for any member of your household, but it counts as another slip with your name on it. The Merchants rarely have this problem.

Gale has never had to take out Tesserae while his father was alive, he wouldn't allow him to. He was too proud, and wouldn't risk his son when he was capable of getting what they needed from the forest. Last year was the first time he had to take out Tesserae.

I let out a huff of air, "Twelve isn't so bad."

Gale laughs darkly, "Yeah, not bad."

"There are over a hundred kids in the district, Gale. Twelve is not a big number."

He plays with the hem of his shirt for a moment before looking at me, the seriousness of his stare is unsettling. "If I get called today, I want you to look after them." He doesn't have to tell me who "them" is. I love his family like I love Prim.

I nod solemnly, "Of course, Gale."

He bobs his head once. "I'd make sure Prim and your mother were taken care of."

We sit for a while before the sun is higher in the sky. "We better check the traps before it gets too late." We didn't practice shooting, too absorbed in the What Ifs.

We got two rabbits, and four squirrels today. It doesn't seem like much, but I can sell the rabbit pelts and trade a squirrel for a loaf of bread and Peeta's bakery. As usual we split the game up equally and head back to the fence.

"I've gotta get to the Mellark's before the square is full of Peacekeepers."

"Yeah, wouldn't want to keep your Merchant puppy waiting."

It wasn't what Gale said- I've grown used to his open distaste for everyone in town, including Peeta- it was the way he said it, like the words were acid and he needed to spit them out before he got burned.

I stopped short and turned to face him. "What did you say?" I asked hardening my tone.

"C'mon Catnip, that boy follows you around like some lost puppy."

"Peeta does not, we're friends. Friends like to be around one another." Unless they're being a jerk, like you. I think to myself.

"Whatever." Gale says petulantly. "His mom sure hates your guts, what makes you think he's really your friend? He's a stuck up Merch-" I cut him off by pushing him to the ground. He doesn't know Peeta at all.

"Youshut up, Gale Hawthorn. You don't know anything about Peeta. He is kind and compassionate. You could learn a few things from him!" I shout at Gale, who is still sprawled out on the forest floor.

I turn to the fence and quickly slide through.

It's still early enough that there is no one on the road, all businesses are shut down on reaping day. People try and sleep as much as they can on this day.

I make my way as quick as I can, dodging Peacekeepers and staying out of sight from prying eyes. The back door to the bakery is just a few feet away.

Just as I am about to knock on the door, Mr. Mellark opens up. He is a stocky man, not very tall, but sturdy. "Oh, Katniss, so nice to see you. Peeta isn't up just yet." He said glancing behind him, no doubt watching out for his horrible wife, the witch.

"That's ok, I'm actually here to see if we can trade?"

His blue eyes light up, "Are you sure you want to trade today? Wouldn't you want to keep it for yourselves?"

"It's alright, we've got plenty of meat today. I did catch a few squirrels, I can part with one." I reached into my game bag and pulled out a fat squirrel. Mr. Mellark took it from my hand and studied it.

"Why you are a fat little thing. I think you might be worth a loaf of bread," He looks at me with dancing eyes. "and perhaps a sugar cookie too." He says, turning his gaze back to the squirrel. He turns back into the bakery and brings out the loaf of bread and s small cookie with yellow frosting and a white flower on it.

There is a small clamor on the stairs and I tense waiting for Mrs. Mellark to enter the kitchen. I let out a sigh when I see it's only Peeta. His hair still rumpled from sleep and his eyes squinting from the sun coming in from the open back door. He smiles brightly when he noticed me standing there.

"Good morning, Katniss." He says with a slight yawn.

I chuckle at his sleepiness. "It's closer to afternoon,"

"Well, I've just woken up, so it's my morning." He says sticking his tongue out at me. After a moment his face turns somber, remembering what today is.

"Hey now, everything will be fine, boy." His father says putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"Yeah, remember you're coming berry picking with Prim and I after supper."

"That's a nice idea. Your mother is having tea with the Northrups after dinner, you can come back here and we'll make a pie."

I nod to Mr. Mellark before telling Peeta bye. I try not to think that it might be the last time I see him.

...

I open the door to the bedroom and find my mother still in the same position from this morning. I take my time pulling out an outfit acceptable for the reaping, the dress is a simple yellow dress that my mother made me before my father died, this will probably be the last time I fit in it.

I walk over to my mothers bed and sit next to her, her eyes are open and unfocused. "Mom, it's reaping day. You have to get up." Nothing. I shake her shoulder. "Please, I need you to walk with me." Still nothing. I try one last thing, "Mom, please, I'm scared." Not a complete lie. But I'd tell her just about anything to get her to wake up. She doesn't even blink.

Doesn't she see how selfish she is? We miss dad too, but I'm out in the forest, risking getting caught by Peacekeepers every day to make sure we have something to eat. I'm the one who puts Prim to bed. I'm the one she comes to when there's a storm and she's scared. I'm the one who helps clean her up if she gets hurt. It suddenly occurs to me that, right here, in this moment, I truly hate my mother. It's been six months, she has to pull herself together. Prim and I almost starved to death, if it hadn't been for Peeta- I don't even remember raising my hand, but the stinging of my palm tells me I've just struck my mother. "I hate you!" I hit her shoulder. "I hate you! Why couldn't you have died instead!" I run and quickly change before charging out the door towards the square.

It's hot, and there are so many people cramped around the square. I get in line like Gale told me to. They prick my finger, and I get in the right square. They prick my finger, and I get in the right square. The line moves much too quickly for my liking and all too soon I'm the next one to check in.

"Name?" The female Peacekeeper asks in a cold monotone voice.

"K-Katniss Everdeen," I stutter out. The woman roughly grabs my hand and uses a strange pen type thing to poke my finger and smear a drop of my blood next to my name. Why they go through so much trouble identifying people I don't know, why would I try and pretend to be someone else? If I was going to try something funny like that, I'd just skip reaping day.

After that, I am roughly pushed into a roped off section with other girls in my age group. I stand on my toes and scan the crowd and try and locate Peeta and Gale. I see Gale standing in the middle of his rope square, the tallest of the bunch, his head is down with his eyes closed and his lips are moving ever so slightly.

I look around again and see just the top of a sunny patch of hair, Peeta. Almostas if he senses me her stands up taller and looks around before seeing me. I give him a reassuring smile, he nods at me.

The speakers around the square crackle and Pepper Atwood- District 12's escort- climbs up the stairs to the stage. She is wearing a dress that looks like it is made of cotton candy- Not sure what it is, I've seen a picture of it once before- it's blue and pink, and her tall platform shoes have live gold fish swimming in the soles. She is very old, this will most likely be her last year. I wonder what they do with escorts when they retire? Something tells me it's not very nice. My dad once said that you don't want to out live your usefulness in the Capital, I'm not sure I want to know what happens then.

"Welcome! The 70th Hunger Games are just around the corner, aren't you all excited? I know I am!" Her comment is met by a few cries from the children and a few yells from the parents. "Moving on! Let's start with a wonderful message from our marvelous President Snow!" She uses her hands with long pointy green fingernails to gesture to the large screens on the justice building. I turn away and look for Hazel, she is in the back holding Posey; Prim, Vick and Rory standing next to her. Vick's first reaping is next year, he has been putting on a brave face the last few weeks, but we all know he's terrified.

"Ladies first!" Pepper calls out. She crosses to the glass bowl with the slips of paper for the girls, digs around and walks back. After unfolding the paper she clears her throat. "Ursa Strong," My heart falls into my stomach. I don't really know Ursa, but she did help me from getting beat up when I was ten. We've shared a few smiles in passing. I wish I would have been brave enough to thank her.

As she is walking passed me I reach my hand out and take hold of her and squeeze it quickly. She smiles and squeezes back. She climbs up to the stage and Pepper gets a slip from the boys bowl.

"Everett Wilson!"

Idon't know this boy, he is small with Seam features, dark hair, tan skin and grey eyes. He is quietly crying as he makes his way up.

After they shake hands they are whisked behind the curtain at the back of the stage and kids slowly return to their parents. I look over to where I had last seen Peeta. He is walking to me, he looks relieved, but I can still see the underlying sadness in his eyes.

"So, berry picking?" He asks with a fake smile.

"I have to get Prim, meet me at my house when your mother leaves."

"Ok," he turns to leave but I grab his arm and bring him into a hug. This is the third time I've shown psychical affection towards Peeta- I'm not really a hugger unless is comes to Prim- but I think today warrants a hug, or two. It takes him a moment but he returns my hug. I pat him on the back and release him.

"Mother leaves just after supper, we should have plenty of sun still."

I tell Peeta goodbye and I run to the Hawthorns to collect Prim. Gale is outside with his brothers but I ignore him, still angry with his comments about Peeta. If he knew what Peeta did for me he wouldn't be able to even think of Peeta as selfish and entitled like the other Merchants. But there is no way I'm telling him about the bread.

I take Prim home and check on my mother, still in bed, shocker.

I reheat the stew I made last night and see to it that she eats. I've decided to stop bringing trays in for my mother, she never eats and if rather not waste the food. I assume she must eat at some point, she's not dead yet.

Peeta knocks on the door and the three of us quickly make our way to the fence. We pick berries as fast as we can and run back to the bakery.

Mr. Mellark helps us with the crust and shows us how to cook the berries.

In this moment it's easy to forget the events of this afternoon, I cling to this moment when Everett purposefully stumbles on his launch plate causing him to be blown up. I think of this moment as I fall asleep to forget the images of Ursa being tied to a tree while the Careers take turns cutting off pieces of her body.

Because, right here, baking pies in Peeta's kitchen, nothing can touch us.

...

Phew! This took me like a week to write! Life likes to get in the way sometimes!

And I tried to end this on a positive note. But, it's a retelling of the Hunger Games, not too much happiness to spread around.

Is it Hawthorn or Hawthorne? I always forget.

Anyway, I I'm only planning on one more chapter before we get to the real story, but I'm getting excited! I know my end game but my brain is just going crazy thinking of things for in between.

Shoot me a review and tell me what you liked, or didn't like, And thanks for reading!