Author's Note: I'm back again! This story will follow Catching Fire from the Reading of the Card to the aftermath of the breakout from the arena and District Thirteen's arrival. As I mentioned before, this picks up immediately after District Four's chapter in "They're Holding Hands". The canon victors are all here as well as my OC victors from my previous stories.

In case anybody is new, District Four's victors are as follows. The Games they survived are in brackets next to each of them.

Mags (11), Shai (13), Chloe (23), Coral (28), Rowan (46), Song (53), Noah (61), Finnick (65), Annie (70)

….

Resolve

She had made up her mind. She knew as soon as Snow read that card. Her girls would be safe, and she would look after Finnick as best she could.

The sun had set, and Mags was enjoying the peaceful darkness, broken only by the moonlight, its shadow and the ripple of the water beyond the Village. She would not have all that many District Four sunsets left, so she would enjoy what she could. Noah was still inside, but he would wait for her.

She needed sleep. She needed to begin planning now that this twist had disrupted much of what they had set out for the path to Four's freedom. Her victors and her district would need her at her best. But sleep would not come easily tonight.

The others would not like it, her return to the arena. Mags could tell that Shai knew as soon as he saw her face. Over sixty years of living together meant he could read her better than anyone. He would hate it, but he would understand. But it hurt Mags to think that she could be handing Shai a death sentence too. He would be all at sea without her. His wife had died and Mags' husband too, and with their families being kept at a distance for their safety, it was the two of them again. But both of them were in their eighties. How many people in the districts got to see that many years? Together, they had been brilliant, and their work would help see in a new world.

Mags had always been Shai's anchor and when she went to the Capitol for the final time, they would be cast adrift. She would talk to him in the morning.

Chloe would be distraught. But Coral would support Mags' choice despite the pain it would cause them all. Coral was pragmatic. She would see the sense in saving Annie and Song and ultimately, Chloe could never damn her victor or her victor's own victor. Mags would never ask her oldest girls to return to the arena and both would be sensible enough to say no.

Rowan and Song would try to persuade her to not return, but that would put the pair at odds with each other. Song's solution would be for her to go instead and objectively and outwardly, Song volunteering would be the most sensible option. Popular, athletic and talented, she could complement Finnick well. But Rowan would never let Song do that, but he wouldn't want to send Mags or Annie back, so there was no solution for him.

She signalled to Noah to help her return inside. How was she going to cope in the arena? She would have to address that. Noah would never criticise her decisions and she would deal with Finnick once he returned after consoling Annie. Their boys would do what was needed. This will hurt them, but they can carry the fire for Four.

Once they had returned inside, Noah and Mags sat in comfortable silence until Noah broached the subject.

"I won't question your decision. But it's horrible to think of you as a tribute again. You're our leader, and not just in Four."

"And I lead from the front."

Noah smiled sadly and took Mags' hand, "I'll do whatever you need, help you however I can." He paused for a moment and Mags knew what was on his mind.

"If that means going in there with you, I will. I'm prepared to volunteer. Finnick is yours and if you want to spare him, I'll do what needs to be done. Whatever we have to do in that arena, I'm prepared to do it."

"Talk to Finnick. But Finnick will be reaped," Mags said.

"That much is obvious. But I can volunteer. I never got to say those words before."

"They're not easy to say, Noah."

"But you're going to say them." Mags shrugged in response.

Sensing the conversation was over, Mags shut her eyes. She knew it would be a while before sleep came, if it did at all, so she collected her thoughts. Noah stayed beside her, still holding her hand and she knew he would not leave until Finnick came to take his place. They had done a good job with these two boys. She was proud of them both.

Even though she would be having stern words with Plutarch, as many as she could manage, Mags had to admit that there was some sense in this awful plan. As many of the rebel victors as possible in one place, working together, having left instructions to their people back home. The arena, the most obvious place to make a statement that would topple the regime. It would never work with a group of traditional tributes, even in a Quell year. Haymitch's girl back where she would have the most impact, fighting for her own survival, for Peeta's survival and to see that lovely sister of hers again. A group of victors, all versed in playing the game and ready to risk everything. It had to be now, and, she supposed, it would have to be this way.

They would need to adapt in Four. Put on a show for the cameras that would surely arrive but keep up the momentum all the same. Rowan and Song would need to stay put. They were to lead their forces, on land and at sea, and they would know the cue to begin. Their work would need to continue even as the cameras gathered to watch their Games preparations.

Going to the Capitol to mentor would likely be dangerous, but Chloe and Coral would go, she wouldn't even need to ask. Where she goes, her girls will follow. She loves them like she loves her own children, and she is humbled by their steadfast loyalty. Mags would never ask anyone to risk themselves for her, and at some point in the Capitol, their true intentions will be unmasked, and they will need to save themselves.

She would let Noah decide where he would be best placed. But there was no way either Shai or Annie would go anywhere near the Capitol. She would need to make arrangements to secure their safety and continued operations.

Plutarch would have to be contacted and she would need to ensure word got to Beetee. She and Finnick would do whatever he required of them if it came to breaking out of the arena. There was the matter of Thirteen too. Pluto had contact from Three. She would need to confirm where they fit into whatever the exact plan would be.

….

At some point she must have fallen asleep because suddenly, she could hear Finnick's voice, whispering to Noah. She realised that the hand holding onto hers had changed. She kept still and quiet and tried not to alert them to the fact that she was now awake, wanting them to have their conversation in peace, without her influence.

"Annie?" Noah began.

"Asleep. Song is with her. Rowan has gone for a swim. Chloe and Coral know when Shai is likely to wake, they will go to him soon."

"I'll find Rowan," Noah started. "But, you don't have to do this. I can go back instead."

Finnick sighed, "I will be reaped."

"And I can volunteer," Noah replied.

"You don't want to do that."

"Who wants to experience another arena?"

"You know it makes sense, Noah. The powers that be didn't want you to win the first time around. Can you imagine how much they will target you, right from the gong, if you end up in there again? And if there definitely is water like we think, Twelve or Three are going to have to be with us. They're going to be the key to whatever the plan is. We can't have them being targeted because of their proximity to you."

"The girl is going to be targeted anyway."

"Let's not make it more difficult than it needs to be. We would both get a lot of sponsors, probably the highest number of any tribute. I might even beat my own record. But I'd still get more than you."

"Don't let that confidence be the end of you, Finnick."

"The sponsors would keep me alive for longer. The Gamemakers couldn't ignore it and they'd want me in the finale more than they would you. Besides, we're fairly sure there will be water. We know where the arena is, you've been spying for too long. I can best all of them in water. When we've sparred, I've been able to best you. I'd have a better chance against anyone else. It makes more sense, me being in there."

"Just think about it though, Finnick. The offer stands."

"What else would I do? Rowan and Song are the leaders here for when the time comes, Shai and Annie will have roles too. You can choose where you end up. I've been working in the Capitol, so it makes sense for me to go. I'm a terrible mentor too, you wouldn't want that."

"Exactly, I can choose. Give you and Annie the best chance. Finnick, how do you think Annie is going to avoid the arena? We all know it will be her name they call."

Finnick just glanced at Mags and held onto her hand tighter, "We'd never convince her otherwise," he said reluctantly. "But Noah, don't throw away whatever you have here. We all know it makes more sense for it to be me. But I'd happily put a trident in Heavensbee's chest right now. What sort of plan is this? Kill us all off? Mags was supposed to be his friend!"

You'd have to join the queue. But we're going to have to trust that whatever this is, it's going to work. Things might just look different to what we hoped."

"It's not as if we've got a choice, as usual. It doesn't seem right though. Mags has worked for years for this and Heavensbee is going to make her some sort of sacrifice. She deserves to see this through."

"I know. So much of this is her work. But when has anything ever been fair or right for any of us?" Noah paused for a moment and then started again, "Look, Finnick, the offer is there. Mags is going to be the noble one and let herself be Plutarch's sacrifice, but you don't have to play their games. I'm giving you an out. At least think about it."

"I'll think about it. But don't expect my mind to change. It's better that it's me and I'll do whatever I can."

Noah sighed and began to leave the room, "Well, it's up to you. Think about it. I'm not going to backtrack on what I've said though."

"I know you won't," Finnick replied. "Go find Rowan. Get in the water, keep your head clear. I might come out there later."

With that, Noah left and went towards the sea to find Rowan. He knew where his mentor would be, and they would talk things through. Finnick turned back towards Mags to find her shaking her head and laughing quietly.

"Oh boys, I'll be fine."

Finnick just laughed back. She had obviously heard everything they were saying. But if Mags could find peace with her decision, they would need to as well. She was steadfast in her choice to do what she needed to do, and he would come to terms with what would be required of him. He was not going to let Mags, or his fellow victors down.