Tigris kept her word to me. She took care of Rosaline and dressed her better than I could have imagined. She wore a black dress that sparkled in the spotlight.

I met her again at her store when I was sure she was alone there. I had to make sure Rosie was in good mental health. I hoped she didn't break down.

"Tigris, how is she?" I asked, taking my hood off my head.

"She's fine, I assured her that I would take care of her until the end. I told her that I was friends with her aunt."

She gave me the most sincere smile, so I smiled back.

"Snow started to suspect that something was wrong... He thought I made a strange decision to want to be a designer for twelves," she warned me. "It's only a matter of time, Lucy. He'll figure out the truth. You're on all the videos, he probably already knows you're alive."

"I know," I moaned. "If you help me meet him today, I will be eternally grateful."

Tigris bit her lip. I was afraid he would refuse me. Such a move could be perceived as an assassination attempt or betrayal of the president.

"Why don't you try on a dress from my store? He'll be more impressed if you look more like human," she suggested, and I already knew she would help me.

"I don't look like a human now?" I asked aggressively.

"Fifteen years ago you combed your hair even in the arena, constantly adjusting your dress to look your best. Today you have messy hair and a coat with a hood," she pointed out to me.

I laughed. "Motherhood changes people, Tigris."

"I couldn't become a mother... even though I always wanted to," she confessed, grabbing my hand. "I will do everything to help her. I will teach her how to move, what to say."

"Does she have any plans for the interview? Who is her mentor?"

"Eighteen-year-old academy student. Ambitious, she's furious that she got a fourteen-year-old girl instead of a strong boy from a better district."

Too much honesty.

"Snow didn't believe in you at first either, but you survived."

"Tigris, he cheated so I could win... No one is crazy enough to put their life and career on the line for one little girl."

"He was crazy enough. At first, he wanted the prize, but he didn't need you alive. All it would take was for you to put on a show, and yet he did everything to save you."

"And then he tried to kill me," I reminded him. "You can't keep dwelling on the past when I have to think about the future."

Tigris ignored my words. She handed me the most modest dress she could find in the store.

"I usually design more extravagant clothes, I love fur. But it would be too much for your beauty. It's better if he recognizes you."

I smiled and put on the dress. I put my coat on her.

"Look for him in the greenhouse. He keeps his roses there, just like Grandma'am. They're all white."

"How will I get there?" I asked, ignoring the pain in my chest that reminded me of those roses he handed me.

"If you can climb... you should climb the tree at the west gate. From the tree you will jump onto the fence and slide down into the garden. The guards change at six o'clock. You have to do it perfectly at that hour. No one should notice you ?"

"And the cameras?" I asked.

"By the time they notice you, you'll already have Coriolanus' attention."

I weighed all the pros and cons.

"How do I know if he will be in the greenhouse at that time?"

"Corio spends most of his time there. Between you and me, he doesn't get along very well with Livia."

I preferred not to know.

The plan seemed easy. However, it was not easy. It turned out that at the age of 30 I wasn't as fit as I used to be. However, I managed to survive jumping off the wall.

I walked along the wall, hiding behind the bushes. I finally saw the outline of the greenhouse Tigris had mentioned.

I ran towards the greenhouse. The door was ajar. I slipped inside.

"Lucy Gray Baird, I've waited fifteen years for you... I was disappointed that you didn't try to reach me for revenge."

I gasped, surprised that the man with his back turned recognized me without looking my way.

"Coriolanus Snow..." I said shyly. "I didn't think I'd ever face you again."

The man laughed and turned to me.

"I made it easy for you to get to me... Why do you think no one stopped you?"

"Did you know I was in the Capitol?" I was surprised.

"I've been watching you in District Twelve for ten years. I knew you disappeared after that little one was chosen as a tribute. I've been waiting for you to show up."

"Why didn't you send someone to kill me?"

"No sense. You stayed silent long enough for me to let you live."

I fell silent. Suddenly I didn't know what I should say. Where to start.

"This little one is Barb Azure's kid? I thought she was more into... women."

"She got married after you left. The situation in our district became even worse, I disappeared and she had no money to support the company."

"How about I turn on the TV? My favorite show is about to start..."

I remained silent as he reached for the remote control. I had no idea he installed a television even in such a place. He probably liked watching children die amidst the smell of roses.

I stood and watched the tributes answer questions, dance and juggle. I realized that Tigris hadn't told me what Rosie was going to do.

I finally saw her in a white floor-length dress. It was covered with tiny diamonds.

"Beautiful dress, Rosaline..." asked the interviewer.

"Diamond dress, because I am a diamond."

The audience laughed when they heard her words. She was so innocent that I smiled too. Tears appeared in my eyes. I rarely cried, but this time I couldn't stop myself.

Corio was watching me, but I didn't care. He had to know the truth one way or another.

"Is there anything you'd like to show off, young lady?"

"Yes, my mentor brought a guitar for me. I would like to sing the song that my aunt always hummed. It's beautiful."

I recognized the melody almost right away.

Everyone's born as clean as a whistle
As fresh as a daisy
And not a bit crazy
Staying that way's a hard row for hoeing
As rough as a briar
Like walking through fire

My heart stopped. Our song. She sang our song. Coriolanus remembered this song as well. I knew it because of his gaze focused at me.

This world, it's dark
This world, it's scary
I've taken some hits, so
No wonder I'm wary
It's why I
Need you
You're as pure as the driven snow

I needed him the most and he turned me down.

Everyone wants to be like a hero
The cake with the cream, or the doer not dreamer
Doing's hard work, but it takes some to change things
Like goat's milk to butter
Like ice blocks to water

I dared to look at Corio. He was shaking standing near me. Deep down, I was glad that our affair had maimed him as much as it had me.

This world goes blind
When children are dying
I turn into dust, but
You never stop trying
It's why I
Love you
You're as pure as the driven snow

I cried. Like, really cried. There was no single person in the Capitol who would know the true meaning of this song. Only me and Coriolanus. Not even Rosaline knew the truth behind the lyrics.

Cold and clean
Swirling over my skin
You cloak me
You soak right in
Down to my heart

All the memories of his hands on my body. His kisses on my skin.

Everyone thinks they know all about me
They slap me with labels and spit out their fables
You came along and you knew it was lying
You saw the ideal me
And yes, that's the real me

My little Rosie had such a beautiful voice. It cracked a little at the last word but it was beautiful.

This world, it's cruel
With troubles aplenty
You asked for a reason
I've got three and twenty
For why I
Trust you
You're as pure as the driven snow

I trusted him completely. Even standing in front of him in the greenhouse full of roses, I knew I could trust him. It was stupid because he betrayed me.

It's why I
Trust you
You're as pure as the driven snow

People were crying as well as me. Rosaline moved the entire Capitol.

"Rosaline Snow... I though that her second name was just a color but I don't think it is anymore," I heard him say.

My heart skipped a beat.

"I thought you wanted to kill me. You shot at me. So I ran away from you," I started.

"At first I thought I made the right decision. Then I regretted it for another ten years until I found out that you survived," he confessed.

"I found out I was pregnant and decided to come back. I was hiding for a long time. I finally returned to the district."

I could see the tears in his eyes. He was not emotionless. But still he was power hungry.

"Is she my daughter?" he asked.

"Yes, she is."

"I loved you, you know?" he told me.

I knew. Deep in my heart I knew he loved.

"Not enough," I choked out.

"Not enough," he agreed with me.

We were just staring at each other when Livia entered the greenhouse. She was visibly pregnant. I was in trouble.

"What is this animal doing here?" she asked him.

I clenched my fists and teeth. I couldn't afford to insult the First Lady. After all, I needed her husband's help.

"If you haven't noticed, I'm talking to an old friend of mine."

"Do you kiss every friend of yours?" she asked and we both blushed.

She had every right to be furious or jealous.

"Livia, go home," he ordered.

"I am not one of your servants."

"Yeah, you're my wife."

The woman looked at him with fury in her eyes, but relented. She left the greenhouse, leaving us alone.

"Is this little boy, her brother, also my son?" he asked.

"No," I lied. "He is Barb Azure's son."

I was still afraid he would kill him out of fear our son could take his position or destroy him.

"What do you expect me to do, Lucy Gray?"