Hi there, babies! I've missed you! I bet you've missed me too!

I bet you're thinking 'holy crap I never thought she would update this story again!

Well, you would be wrong :P

So here's the run down. I've been absent for a while.

I lost inspiration for this plot, and now I am attempting to find it again. Though trust me when I say that I am not quite as evil as some other fan fiction authors who only update like once a year.

So. Love me. :3

I hope this chapter is everything you expect it to be, even though it probably won't be. So. Yeah.

Read on, my little Padawons.

XxXxXxX

"There isn't much time, so tell me. Is there anything I have to apologize for?" Peeta asks as soon as the doors to the elevator close.

"No, I just-" I say as Peeta brings me in for a hug. He rubs my back and wipes away my tears.

Somewhere, very far off, is a place called District Twelve where my loved ones will be dealing with the fallout from this night. Just a brief hovercraft ride away is an arena where, tomorrow, Peeta and I and the other Tributes will face our own form of punishment. But even if all of us meet terrible ends, something happened on that stage tonight that can't be undone. We victors staged out own uprising, and maybe, just maybe, the Capitol won't be able to contain this one.

The shrieking and screams from the terrified crowd fill my mind and I shudder in Peeta's arms as my eyes close, a final tear escapes me as I begin to remember.

Caesar is unable to reign in the crowd again, not even when Peeta's buzzer sounds. Peeta nods a good-bye, then goes back to his seat next to me. They blast the anthem as loud as possible, and it lets us know where we stand in the program. I rise, and as I do, I sense Peeta reaching for me. Tears stain his face as we join hands.

I look to the crowd, but the only faces I see are Rue and Thresh's family, the other pained parents we saw in the crowds of the other Districts we saw on the Victory Tour. Suddenly, I turn and offer Chaff my hand, I feel my fingers close around the stump that now completes his arm and hold fast.

And then it happens. Up and down the row, the victors begin to rise and join hands. Some right away, others were unsure, but caught up in the demands of those around them. The anthem plays its final strains; all twenty-four of us stand in one unbroken line in what must be the first public show of unity since the Dark Days. You can see the realization of this as the screens begin to fade into blackness, but it is too late. Everyone has seen.

Peeta takes my hand and walks me into the suite, and sits me down on one of the couches. We sit there quietly waiting for the others to return, not needing words to fill the empty void. Just being together is enough for us.

Not soon after our arrival, Haymitch walks through the door. "It's madness out there. Everyone's been sent home and they've canceled the recap of the interviews for the Districts."

Peeta and I both stand and rush to the window, trying to make sense of everything that is happening. "What are they saying?" Peeta asks. "Are they asking the President to stop the Games?"

"I don't think they know themselves what to ask. The whole situation is unprecedented. Even the idea of opposing the Capitol's agenda is a source of confusion for the people here." Haymitch says. "But there's no way Snow would even consider stopping the games. You do know that, right?"

Of course I do. I know he'd never be able to back down now. The only other option he has is to strike back at us, and strike hard. "Are the others coming back?" I ask him.

"All Capitol residents were ordered back to their homes, so I doubt they'll be coming back here. Especially not with those mobs out there," he sighs.

"But that means-" I start, but Peeta cuts in and finishes for me.

"We'll never see them again," he says quietly. "You'll tell them goodbye for us though, wont you Haymitch?" Peeta asks. Haymitch nods.

"More than that," I say. "Make it special. Tell them how much we appreciate them, Effie especially. Tell them that we send our love," I say as I look to Peeta with a half smile. I feel like crying, but I know this is not the time to break down. We have to be strong, okay? I think to the little one.

Haymitch nods as he considers. "Well I guess this is where we say our goodbyes as well."

"Any last words of advice?" Peeta asks.

"Stay alive," Haymitch replies gruffly. That's almost an old joke with us now. He gives us both a quick hug, but I can tell that that is all he can bear. "Now go to bed, you need your rest."

"Take care," I try to say quietly, but my voice cracks and I can tell I am on the verge of sobbing. Peeta wraps his arms around me and leads me down the hallway with our bedrooms. His door is first, so we stop there, but I don't want him to let go, because I know if he does, I'll fall completely apart.

Peeta releases his hold on me enough to bring my face into his full view. "Do you think you can wait for me long enough that I can get a shower?"

"No, don't go," I hiccup. "Besides, there's a shower in my room."

"Okay," He whispers, and then I'm totally useless. Weak as he is with his Capitol replacement leg, he whips me up into his arms and carries me the rest of the way to my room and softly deposits me on the bed. "Hey, let's get you washed up, okay?"

"Okay," you can barely hear it, but I nod, so I guess he understands. I'm way past being uncomfortable with Peeta seeing me naked, so I don't mind when he slips the zipper of my dress down and helps me out of it. We don't talk, and I don't fight him as he washes the make up from my body; I'm too exhausted, and I know he is too.

When I'm all clean, I at least dry myself partially before he really realizes how pathetic I am, so he takes my towel and does it for me, then helps me into a simple night gown.

"I'm sorry," I say, but my words are still hardly noticeable.

"It's okay," he says as he embraces me softly. "I get it." Peeta helps me into bed, and then I wait for him to clean himself up. When he returns all showered off and free of makeup, he climbs into bed with me, and we lay there for a while.

"Why didn't you ever say anything?" I ask him suddenly.

"What?" He says, confused.

I turn over and face him. "About the baby. If you knew, why didn't you say anything?"

"Oh… Well, I guess it just seemed like you didn't want me to know."

"I wish you had confronted me about it. I think it would make all of this," I said, gesturing to our surroundings. "A lot easier to handle…"

"I'm sorry," he says, and I can hear the pain in his voice. I lean in and kiss him softly, even though I've managed to somehow sew myself back together, I feel as if my seams are tearing.

"Don't be sorry," I say. "I need you to help hold me together in there, you know. We both do." I curl up to him close, tucking my head under his chin, and he holds me tight.

The rest of the night is spent holding each other. I'm not sure if either of us really do get any sleep, but when the sun rises, I feel wide awake and wholly un-rested. I try not to move too much, because it actually seems like Peeta is asleep, but I know I've failed when he groans and stretches next to me.

"Morning," I sigh and smile, which makes him smile. If today is going to be our last day together, I don't want our last memories to be sad ones. "I love you," I say, and I hear the smallest intake of breath from behind me.

Cinna and Portia have arrived to separate and prep us for murder. I take a deep breath and say my goodbye with a kiss, the deepest most passionate kiss I can muster, and then Portia whisks him away from me.

Awh! Aren't they so cute?!

So, I've just finished my re-read of the Series and OHMYGLOB I have so many new ideas, okay.

When I was finishing up this chapter, I actually took some breaks and I now have upwards of six new chapters outlined! Isn't that exciting?

I hope that in the coming weeks I will be able to write and update more, but just to be safe, don't expect too much from me, okay?

I love you all! As always, I'm sending love to my beta Mage-Luna (even though she didn't beta this chapter. Charlotte did! Because Mage-Luna is sick!)

Siriusly guise. If you don't check out her work, well. I may have to punish you!

Don't forget to leave me a review!