A/N: This chapter is happy and sad, but don't worry! Review nonetheless, okay? :) Starts with Cato again.

While we wait in the elevator, I decide to break the silence. "So uh...nice weather we're having, huh?" ~

"...We're underground," Haymitch says dryly. "When I found you two, it was the first time I'd been aboveground in the longest time." ~

Oops. "Sorry...I don't know how else to start a conversation." ~

I squeeze Cato's hand as Haymitch speaks. "It's okay, kid. We're all just real busy here. Lots to do." ~

"I see." I look down at my sweaty hand and up to Peeta, who's giving me the saddest look. I know, I know. "So uh...do they already have plans for us, or are they deciding when we get there?" If they're deciding after we speak to them, then we can argue our case. ~

"I think they have a few ideas. Some negotiable, some not. I don't really know. Not my call." ~

"Alright." Some not negotiable. That's not good. ~

The doors eventually open to a metal hallway where every surface is basically a mirror. Then, we walk through a pair of sliding doors into a room with a large circular table in it. At the opposite end from the door is Coin, but then, there are a bunch of people who I don't really know but look horribly familiar. On her right is an empty seat, which I presume to be Haymitch's. Next to him is a darker, older man, maybe a bit older than Haymitch, who only has one arm. Beside him is another older man, who was somewhat eccentric looking. Then, I see two familiar faces. Cinna and Portia. Katniss and I's stylists from the Games. They were in on this, too? Then there was a girl in her twenties with short, spiky hair. Then, there were two empty seats which I guessed were for us. Beside our seats was first a pale, dark haired girl who looked slightly alarmed, and a very muscular, tanned man with a perfect smile. Then, the circle reached Coin again. ~

After looking around the room for quite some time, I realize that I recognize most of these people, if not all. I'd seen tapes of some of them multiple times before; during training, especially. They're all victors except for a pair sitting together, who I vaguely remember as Peeta's stylists. The first person I recognize at the table is one of the many victors from District Four, Finnick Odair. I've seen his Games so many times that of course I'd remember him first, besides the fact that I also heard he was asked to prostitute the Capitol. Then, next to him is Annie Cresta, also from Four-of course, I would remember the Career Districts first, since that's what I watched the most. The last one I know by name is Johanna Mason, I think from District Seven. The others I've seen once or twice, but their names don't come to mind. ~

Haymitch goes down to sit over by Coin, and motions for us to sit, too. I sit next to the dark haired girl, and Cato goes next to the short haired girl. I give a small smile and wave at Portia, who seems happy to see me but disappointed with my hair, as she points to her own and shakes her head. I laugh quietly, because she really does know how to make things better. All these people are involved in this revolution? For how long, I could only wonder. ~

For what feels like the longest time, we all just sit there in complete silence. Mostly, everyone is looking at Peeta like he's come back from the grave-which he has, a million times, in a way. Then, the girl next to me, Johanna, says, "So it's true," more as a fact instead of a question, like a million others before her.

"It is indeed," says President Coin. "Good morning, boys."

"Morning." Not necessarily a good morning. ~

"G'morning." I say, and as I do, I yawn slightly. It's still pretty early, from what I've gathered. I don't want to ask who everyone is, because that seems rude, though the blonde man two seats down from me is so familiar, I'm going insane trying to figure out who he is.

"Sorry we're late." Haymitch says, leaning back into the chair. "The hospital didn't give them any clothes, so I had to find some." ~

Coin shakes her head and sighs, probably thinking about how those nurses aren't doing their jobs correctly. Because really, who doesn't give patients clothing? "Understandable." She looks from me to Peeta and questions, "Do you know everyone here?"

"Mostly." ~

"Can we just have a circle of introductions?" I laugh nervously. "I feel like I should know you all, but I never had much time to do anything besides bake at home." It's true. They all look so familiar, and yet...blank. Haymitch snickers a bit at me, but nods. Points for honesty. Well, at least that's good. ~

She points to her right and starts going around the circle, running off names. "You know Haymitch, Chaff, Beetee, you know Cinna and Portia, Johanna...and to your right are Annie and Finnick." ~

Finnick. That's who it was. Finnick Odair, who won the Hunger Games ten years ago. They were all victors. "Well, I feel so awkward to be at a table with all of you." I laugh nervously. "I mean, you're all incredible. I'm here by dumb luck."

"Nothing wrong with dumb luck." Finnick comments, smiling. "Anything to mess with the Capitol, and you're good in our books." He puts his arms around the back of the woman, Annie's, chair. ~

Annie smiles and leans towards Finnick a little bit. Ah.

"You're incredible, too," I say. "You're the reason this is happening, remember?" Peeta was their martyr. Was. Now, he's alive and well, so he must be much more than that.

"Pretty badass, defying the Capitol like that," Johanna points out. "Just the sheer fact that you had the audacity to hang around District Two for that long proves it." The way she comments on that sounds slightly condescending, but maybe that's just the way she talks. I come off that way too, sometimes, so I think it's okay. ~

"There was really no other option." I say to Johanna. "I mean, the works thought I was dead. Where the heck was I supposed to go? I just knew I couldn't stay in Twelve."

"I have a question." The man who's been sitting silent for most of this, Beetee, speaks. "How did you live through that torture? I know most of us, including myself, would've easily given up on survival at one point or another, be it the fire, electricity, tracker jacker venom.."

"So that's what that was?!" ~

"Yeah, I thought I told you...?" The look he gives me says no you did not. "I found out when I drugged up that one Peacekeeper who brought me food, about ten or fifteen minutes before I found you. Who knows when he woke up, even. I injected the entire thing into him. It must've been diluted or something, so that it wouldn't kill you or make you totally whacked out." No point in wasting it all on making him permanently insane if they were planning on killing him. ~

"Well, that makes a lot more sense now." I look to Cato before glancing back at Beetee. "I really don't know. I...there were times I wanted to die. But every time I was I was going to really die, I fought it. Because I..I hoped that there would be a way to live. That my luck hadn't run out yet." ~

"How very inspiring," Johanna says, rolling her eyes.

"And I swore I'd break him out of there if it was the last thing I'd ever do." It wasn't the last thing I ever did, but this meeting could be the last time I ever talk to Peeta without knowing how my future will turn out. Speaking of which... "Um, this meeting...? What's the plan, or...I don't really know anything?"

Coin clears her throat before speaking. "Now that you're acquainted, we can begin." ~

Everyone becomes a lot quieter when she says these things. I reach under the table and take Cato's hand into mine. I squeeze it once. Cinna and Portia give me reassuring nods before I turn my attention to Coin. ~

"We believe that the very first plan of action should be to broadcast your resurrection, Peeta," she says, leaving me to hold in laughter. Just...his resurrection. "That should alert the remaining districts of your liveliness, and in turn, convince them to join us in the rebellion."

"But what about his family?" I ask quickly. It looks as though Haymitch is going to stop me from interrupting, but I continue anyway. "If the Capitol knows Peeta's here, then they'll assume that we already made it to District Twelve, and they'll assume that we visited the bakery. Whether we did or not, they'd still go there. I don't want them to get killed." ~

"Yeah," I add in. "I...I can't let that happen. My father is the reason I'm here. He told me the stories of Thirteen when I was young. You need to make sure he's safe..My family is all I ever had." ~

For the entire time Peeta talked, Coin didn't take her eyes off me. I suppose I ruined plans again. "We'll put together a team to do that as soon as possible."

"With me on it?" I feel like I owe everything to Mr. Mellark, so maybe I should go. "I know where everything is now. I can guide everyone-"

"That isn't necessary," she cuts me off. "We have bigger plans for you." ~

My grip on Cato's hand tightens. "Like...like what?" Oh god. I wasn't even emotionally prepared for this. ~

"You're one of the strongest fighters we have here, Cato." No. "We would like you to lead one of the teams to bring down the Capitol."

"I'm not smart enough for that," I say desperately.

"Don't think we haven't seen your victory in the last Hunger Games. You outsmarted everyone there and took them down."

"No, isn't there something else besides fighting...?"

"Non-negotiable." There it is. ~

No, this can't be happening. No. It takes every fiber of my self control to not scream and sob right there. I want to quit this. Leave. But I can't. We can't. My hand is losing circulation, and I think a bit of the horror is showing on my face, because I see Finnick and Annie looking at me. We all know what this means. He does, especially. His face is sympathetic for us, and I see that their hands are held just as tightly. I hope he doesn't have to go, too. ~

"You and Odair, especially," she says. "We haven't completely worked out details yet, but we need you two."

"No!" Annie speaks out loud for the first time. She isn't angry, but instead, she's distressed.

"Yes." ~

I look over to Annie. She's feeling exactly what I am.

"Shhh..." He pulls her into his arms and kisses the top of her head. "I'll be okay Annie, I promise." I look to Cato. We know there's nothing to be said for us. We've discussed this before. I don't want to cry here, but I feel them coming. I can't cry. I'm strong. Instead of crying like I normally would, I take my first step to being strong: I take Annie's hand and give it a tight squeeze. Because right now, we're the same. In the same position. Feeling the same thing. She needs it just as much as I do. ~

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Peeta grip Annie's hand tightly, and she returns the favor. They're both destroyed inside. I ask, "There's absolutely nothing we could do?"

"Non-negotiable!" she repeats rather loudly. "We're planning for an attack within the next week, so most of you will be training: Finnick, Cato, Johanna...any other volunteers?"

Volunteers. No choice.

So this is what it feels like to get reaped for the Hunger Games. ~

Everything remains quiet. No one wants to volunteer to die. And every person knows that's what this is. I pull Cato's hand up to my face and kiss his palm, closing his fingers in on it. "Hold onto that for me, okay?" I whisper in his ear, breaking my silence and doing everything not to crack. ~

"I will. I promise," I say, my voice shaking. I'm going to die out there. Sure, I made it through the arena with no problem, but that was fighting other kids who were afraid of me. The Capitol knows what I'm capable of, and I will be their first target. "I'm sorry," I whisper, not making eye contact with him. He knows I'm going to die. ~

"Don't say sorry..you say sorry too much." I mimic him. I lean my forehead against his. I don't care if people are looking. "Don't say sorry...it's not your fault." ~

"Sorry." I smile. Let him know you're okay. "I love you." ~

"See? Again... I love you, too. Now and always." Always. I mean that. "I'm already planning the cake." ~

"Don't go overboard like you did last time, in case I don't get to eat it again." ~

"Nah, then everyone else will get a huge cake." I laugh quietly. "I can't not overdo things." ~

"I don't want you to overdo something for me, only to end up giving it to everyone else because I couldn't come back..." Just in case I don't come back. I want to, but I'm nearly 100% sure I'll die out there. All for him, though. ~

"Let's just think that you will, okay...? I'll teach Annie to bake, too." I'm not in denial. I'm just trying to be positive. "We have to make the most of the time, this week." I whisper before realizing everyone else is waiting to continue with the meeting. ~

"Alright..." I nod vigorously and break away from him.

"Thank you," Coin says, "I'm sure that you all know this is for the good of District Thirteen and all of Panem. Now that we are all cooperating, I'd like to move on to the next order of business...all the details should be ironed out by tomorrow morning regarding strategy and game plan." She finally turns to Peeta and says, "Don't worry. You should be here for most, if not all, of the time." ~

Just what I wanted. "Why?" I ask, just out of pure curiosity. "I mean, I don't object, I'm just wondering." ~

"We figured you'd be better suited to handle things around here. You don't seem very...combative." He isn't. "Besides, you need more time to frost your cake," she says, unamused by our public displays of affection. "Unless you want to go?" ~

Cato wouldn't want me to. He wants me to live. See this through. "No, no, you're right." I laugh. "I'll be better off here. What'll I be doing, anyway?" ~

"Filming and hopefully coming up with future plans. We'll discuss that another time."

I run my hand up and down Peeta's leg to make him feel better. You won't die. You won't die. I promised him we'd have a chance together, so I have to pull through. Stop thinking you're going to die. ~

"Okay..." I sigh. That was definitely Haymitch's doing. He always said I was quite the actor. I look back to Cato and smile at him. I mean, maybe we have a chance. ~

"Is that all?" This room is a terrible thing to stay in after hearing all this bad news, so I just want to leave.

"For now, yes." She gives me a cold look. "Haymitch, escort these boys to their new compartments." ~

I groan at the word "compartments". I wanted to be able to stay with him. ~

"Um, I hate to question your authority, but...compartments, or compartment?" I want to spend as much time with him as possible.

Before I die.

"Compartment," she corrects herself. ~

I give him a small smile and let go of Annie's hand, giving her a reassuring nod as we begin to walk away. I wonder what her and Finnick's relationship was like. If she thought he was going to die, too. We say our goodbyes to the group and follow Haymitch. I still haven't ever let go of Cato's hand. ~

"Peeta..." I say, looking at the floor. ~

"...Yeah?" I'm trying not to cry. ~

"It's better to get everything out now...you can cry, if you want." ~

"No," I whisper. "I told you I would be strong." ~

"It's not good to keep it all in, though." ~

"But...I won't. I just..." I want to wait until we're in private. ~

"Alright, Peeta Bread." I half-smile and swing our hands back and forth. ~

I smile at the nickname. We remained in silence until the spots opened again to a long, wide corridor. It was lined with doors. Haymitch lead us toward a for at the end of the hall. "Most of the people at that meeting live on this floor, so you'll have company. Get your schedules each morning, but rest for now. It's been a long morning for all of us. Lunch is at noon, dinner from 1800 until 2100." He says, clicking a button to open the door, waving goodbye. ~

A/N: Well, there's. Eep. What do YOU think'll happen? Tell me your thoughts! xx