"Yo Tay," Buck called out as he knocked on her door and walked in. "Holy crap," he snorted as he looked at the makeup her new team had slapped on her face. "You look insane."

"I told you so!" Taiya groaned at her team. "Get it off my face, please! What's up, Buck?"

"You might want to get that off quickly. This came for you," he held a note up.

Taiya instantly stiffened. Notes were never a good sign. "What does it say?"

Buck didn't answer her, instead, he walked forward and handed her the note.

Taiya, please meet me in the Gamemaker Conference Room. R

"Who's R?" Taiya asked nervously.

"I don't know. Who'd you piss off this time?" Buck whispered back while her team fluttered around obliviously.

"I don't know," her voice shook as she swallowed. This was not a good time to be getting into trouble.

"Come on," he grabbed her arm softly and helped her up as soon as the makeup was removed. "I'll have her back soon," he told the team.

"But the interviews are in 8 hours! We won't have enough time!" they moaned.

"You'll be fine," Taiya dismissed as she followed after Buck. "Do Tyler and Finnick know about this?" she asked, holding the note up.

"No," he denied. "I thought you'd want to keep it secret until you had more information."

"Thank you, Buck," Taiya sighed in relief. The last thing she wanted to do this close to the Games was to cause Finnick any more stress.

"Hey," he called her back as she walked out of the apartment door. "Be careful Taiya. I'm serious."

All she could do was nod before she stepped into the elevator and descended to the basement, where the conference room was.

Her heart was racing. She couldn't do anything that would endanger Finnick or her life any further. What if Snow had found out about Plutarch's plan?

That's what was running through her mind as she nervously knocked on the door.

"Come in," a voice answered from the other side.

As soon as she opened the door, she let out a sob of relief. When she saw who it was, she ran into the room and pulled the man into a hug.

It was Romulus. Seneca's younger brother.

"Oh my god!" she cried as a few tears escaped her eyes. "You're here! It's you!"

"Hi," he laughs softly as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I haven't seen you in so long."

"I know," he nodded as he released her and pulled out a chair for her before he sat down.

"What are you doing here?"

"I had to see you," he ran a hand down his face.

"Are you ok?" she asked. He looked like a mess. Red eyes, untidy hair.

"My wife is pregnant."

"Congratulations," Taiya smiled.

"It's not mine."

"Oh," her eyebrows shot up. "I'm sorry."

"Oh please T. It's hardly a surprise," he gave her a small smile.

"Still. Sorry."

"You got a good score in training, Tay. Well done," he tapped her hand in encouragement.

"Yeah, thanks," she slumped into the chair. "Why'd you want to see me?" she asked, deciding not to skirt around the subject anymore.

"I was talking to the Gamemakers last night. Out at drinks. They're playing this year much closer to the chest but they're still gossip's," he rolled his eyes. "They told me what the pair from 12 did in their evaluation sessions. They told me what earned them 12s."

"And you want to tell me?" Taiya assumed.

"I do," he admitted. "I think you deserve to know. You'll care less about the boy, but he drew a picture. The girl from 11 last year, Everdeen's ally. He drew a painting of her surrounded by flowers."

"That's sweet. Not exactly worthy of a 12 though."

"On its own? No. For the act of rebellion," Romulus said quietly. "Definitely worth 12."

"Everdeen. What'd she do?" Taiya asked.

Romulus ran a hand down his face as he sucked in a deep breath. "She grabbed a target dummy. She dragged it across the room and tied a noose around its neck. She got some paint. Black and red. She drew on it. She drew hair and a beard. Then a name. Then she hung it from the rafters in from of all the Gamemakers."

"Who did she draw?" Taiya breathed.

"Seneca," he coughed as he tried to blink away the despair in his eyes. "She drew Seneca."

Taiya sucked in a deep breath as she turned to look at the wall.

"I'm not an idiot T," Romulus sighed. "I know you weren't in love with him. But I know you cared about him."

"I did," she breathed.

"That's why I had to tell you. I'm sorry you're here. I don't want this for you. He definitely wouldn't want this for you. I can't stay much longer T. But I have to tell you, this year… it feels different. It feels like a finale. Don't trust anyone. Everyone is looking out for themselves ok. Don't trust anyone," he sternly warned as he grabbed her hand and placed a quick kiss on her forehead before racing out of the room.

Taiya swallowed as she stared at the wall. If someone as oblivious as Romulus could feel the difference in the air… then she knew the odds of surviving were never in her favour.

"She drew Crane?" Johanna scoffed as Taiya, Finnick and her whispered in the corner of the backstage area.

All the tributes were mingling around the backstage area, waiting for the interviews to commence.

"That's what Romulus was told. She drew Seneca and bread boy drew the kid from 11. That's how they got the 12s."

"Jesus Christ. Why'd I bother throwing my axe around? If I'd known I could've just drawn a pretty picture I would have done that," Johanna snapped.

"You wouldn't have gotten a 12 for a painting, Johanna," Finnick rolled his eyes.

"Well, how do you know that fish face?" Johanna argued. "You've never seen my painting."

"Because Johanna, you're not their target."

"Maybe I should be. Trust me, if I wanted to I could ruffle more feathers than that kid."

"So, what? You're envious of a couple of teenagers who are now the main target for Snow? Not to mention the Careers after those scores."

"I'm not saying I want to be the one Snow's gunning for," Johanna snapped. "I'm just saying they could at least judge us fairly when it comes to scores. 12 for a painting is ridiculous."

"You're being ridiculous."

"Ok you two," Taiya interrupted, ending the bickering.

It was good timing as well, because no more than a moment later, the entire room fell silent. Katniss and Peeta had arrived.

A wedding dress. Katniss was wearing a freaking wedding dress.

"I can't believe Cinna put you in that," Finnick laughed, breaking the silence as he walked towards the pair.

"He didn't have a choice," Katniss defended herself. "President Snow made him."

"You ok?" Johanna whispered quietly.

"Yeah," Taiya sniffled subtly. "At least someone gets to wear a wedding dress," she muttered bitterly before walking away from her friend.

"You look ridiculous," Cashmere teased Katniss before she waved Gloss over to the start of the line.

Taiya studied herself in the mirror, trying to adjust the level of emotion on her face just enough that it could manipulate the Capitol audience.

"Hey," Peeta interrupted her.

"Hi," Taiya greeted quickly.

"I just wanted to say, you look really nice," he complimented her awkwardly.

"I look like a blue cupcake," Taiya scoffed as she tried to flatten her dress down.

"If I win I'll dedicate the next cupcake in the bakery to you," Peeta tried to joke before his smile fell. "Sorry… I didn't mean it like that."

"I know you didn't," she smiled at him. Of course, the boy meant no harm.

"Can I ask you a personal question?"

"You can ask. I don't have to answer," Taiya glanced at him, watching him twitch nervously.

"Is there something going on between you and Finnick?" he asked and Taiya froze. "I'm sorry. I really don't mean to pry. It's just…"

"It's ok," Taiya sighed. "I get the curiosity," she looked over at Katniss. "Let's just say my gown would have been way nicer than that." Peeta's eyes widened in realisation, understanding exactly what she was implying. "Don't tell anyone. Please?"

"Of course," Peeta nodded. "I am sorry."

"Me too," Taiya agreed before walking away to stand beside Finnick in line for the stage.

"I think I'm going to go off script," Finnick says as Taiya stands beside him.

"What?" she gasped. "You can't. Tyler told us exactly what to say!"

"I'm going to say it, but… in a different way," he winked at her.

"Dude Tyler is going to kill you," Taiya scoffed as she turned to look at the TV. Cashmere had just walked on stage and had come out firing!

The tears were flowing freely down her face as she sobbed about how much she felt for the people of the Capitol, and how she knows they must be devastated by the loss of so many victors. Gloss speaks of how grateful he is to those in the Capital for their treatment of him and his sister, although Taiya was quite confident he meant the opposite.

Beetee takes a slightly different approach as he twitchingly queries the legality of the Games.

And then the name she'd been dreading was called.

"TAIYA AMBERSNOW!" Caesar roared from the stage.

"I love you," Finnick whispered to her before she walked onto the stage.

As soon as she stepped onto the stage she froze and let out a sob as she covered her mouth and shook her head dramatically at the side of the lavender-haired Caesar Flickerman.

"Oh, my dear Caesar!" Taiya cried as she moved forward to hug the laughing man.

"Oh Taiya, you spoil me," he cackled into his microphone.

"I'm sorry," Taiya wiped under her eye. "I'm just so overcome by all the emotions!"

"Tell me more about that my dear Miss Ambersnow," Caesar opened the floor for her.

"I just… I can't even begin to describe what this past year has been like for me," Taiya sighed dramatically. "It's been a year of such sadness."

"Ah, are you talking about that unfortunate passing of your beloved fiancé?" Caesar asked.

"Yes," Taiya sniffled, wiping away more tears. "I am. Oh Caesar I've been just positively heartbroken. The agony of losing someone I loved so much. I'm sure everyone here will agree with me, yes? I know you all loved Sen just as much as I did."

"Indeed we did my dear. Indeed we did," Caesar agreed.

"I just… oh it's silly."

"Tell us, tell us," Caesar urged.

"I was just so excited to spend more time here. In the Capitol. It just feels like home to me. Sen and I had it all planned out. After our wedding, which was going to be only one month after he passed, I was going to move here. We wanted a family. A family in the Capitol. I wanted to raise my children here, alongside you all. Growing up with Capitol values. I wanted to share my family with you," Taiya lied.

"You and Seneca Crane wanted a family?" Caesar dove into the piece of gossip.

"Oh of course," Taiya nodded. "It's all we ever wanted. His… untimely passing unfortunately means that will never happen. And now I am here. This is just devastating to me, but at least I am glad Seneca doesn't have to see it. And at least my last few days are here in the Capitol. Amongst family. I feel at home here. I always have. I love each and every person I have met here."

"Oh, such touching words," Caesar held a hand to his heart. "I can speak on behalf of all of us Capitolites when I say we truly adore you. I don't know how we can let you go."

"The only thing I could suggest would be to petition our beloved President Snow to cancel the Games. That way I could stay here, with my family," Taiya smiled at the crowd.

"Thank you Miss Ambersnow. Thank you. Such beautiful words," Caesar announced, terminating her interview after her blatant attempt to rally the crowd. "If you wouldn't mind my dear," he gestured for her to join the rest of the victors who'd already spoken who were lining the back of the stage.

"That was good," Beetee whispered as she took her place beside him.

Taiya just shook her head. "Not good enough," she denied.

"Now, one for the ladies," Caesar winked. "The other tribute from District 4, the exquisite specimen, FINNICK ODAIR!"

Finnick smiled and waved as he waltzed onto the stage, blowing kisses to all the eager women in the crowd. Performing so far exactly as Tyler had instructed him to.

"Finnick!" Caesar smiled coyly as the girls cheered. "I understand that you have a message, for somebody out there, a special somebody."

Taiya felt Beetee glance at her, but she kept her gaze straight. She couldn't show any reaction on stage.

"Can we hear it?" Caesar asked.

Caesar held the microphone in front of Finnick and Taiya heard him take a breath before beginning.

"My love. You have my heart, you always have, and will have for all eternity. And if I die in that arena… my last thought will be of your lips," he recited a piece completely different to the script Tyler had prepared. "I'm sorry Caesar," Finnick smiled as he ducked his head before his genuine emotions could come through too much. "Don't apologise my boy. I'm sure she's a lucky girl," Caesar laughed loudly, trying to bring the energy back to the room. "You can go join the other tributes," he dismissed Finnick who quickly walked to stand beside Taiya.

Neither one said anything. They couldn't. Not with every camera watching. But one benefit of her stupid cupcake skirt, it took up so much room that no one noticed Taiya's hand leave her side and grab ahold of Finnick's.

No one saw the interlinked hands holding onto each other for dear life.

"Here she comes!" Taiya whispered as a smile overtook her face. This was the interview she'd most been looking forward to. Johanna's.

And as soon as Johanna marched onto the stage Taiya could tell it was going to be good.

There were no sweet or sad emotions in an attempt to manipulate the crowd.

Nope.

Johanna came storming out radiating nothing but blatant rage.

Caesar took a moment longer to introduce her as he looked for words to say.

"We've seen a lot of tears here tonight," he finally announced. "But I see no tears in Johanna's eyes. Johanna, you are angry. Tell me why."

Johanna merely scoffed. Taiya didn't need to be able to see her face to imagine the dramatic eye-roll she'd just done.

"Try not to smile too much," Finnick smirked from beside her.

"Well, yes. I'm angry," Johanna laughed incredulously. "You know I'm getting totally screwed over here. The deal was that if I win the Hunger Games, I get to live the rest of my life in peace. But now, you want to kill me again. Well, you know what?" Johanna asked, turning to the audience. "FUCK THAT! AND FUCK EVERYBODY THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT!" she started hysterically screaming before being frantically ushered off stage by the staff.

"She's amazing," Taiya smiled as she looked in the direction of her friend who was still screaming.

"All right then," Caesar chuckled awkwardly. "One woman's opinion. Who's next?"

By the time the Girl on Fire is introduced, the audience is like putty. Weeping and bemoaning the loss of their beloved victors. Before Katniss was introduced, Johanna was ushered back onto the stage and into her position at the back. Now that she'd calmed down it was deemed acceptable to allow her back into the public's view. But before she turned to face the front, Johanna shot Taiya and Finnick a quick wink, making them chuckle quietly in amusement.

Caesar was now getting to his favourites and his energy picked up.

"Ladies and Gentleman. Please welcome her, you know her as the girl on fire! The victor of last year's Games, Katniss Everdeen!"

And out waltzed the girl from 12. Flaunting her fake wedding dress.

"Katniss Everdeen, you look fabulous!" Caesar gasped. "Doesn't she?" he asked the crowd.

Taiya tried to keep her personal feelings out of her perception of this interview. She knew the girl had sway in the Capitol. Especially coming out in a wedding dress. If anyone was going to be able to convince the crowd to work themselves into such a flurry that Snow was left with no choice but to cancel the Games, it would be one of the pair from 12.

Katniss then walked forward on the stage and spun, replicating the fire trick from her dress last year. Only this time it made a political statement.

Her frilly ridiculous wedding dress burnt up into a black dress with wings. A mockingjay.

"Well he's not cancelling them now," Taiya sighed quietly to Finnick. Any chance they may have had of a reprieve was gone with this statement.

"He was never going to cancel them, Tay," Finnick whispered back while giving her hand a light squeeze as Katniss made her way to her position with the others and Peeta was introduced.

"Bread boy is good with crowds, maybe…"

"It's not going to happen, babe," Finnick said as kindly as he could. "Although the boy does have talent," he admitted when Peeta falsely declared he and Katniss were already married, that they'd eloped.

"I wouldn't have any regrets at all if it weren't… if it weren't," Peeta stuttered as he played with the crowd's emotions.

"If it weren't for what? What?" Caesar eagerly pressed.

"If it weren't for the baby."

This sent the crowd roaring. Everyone was on their feet. People in the crowd started chanting to stop the Games.

"He's a genius," Taiya laughed. Maybe there was a chance they'd cancel, or at least delay the Games.

Finnick moved their interlinked hands forward so they were showing in front of Taiya's dress and she quickly jerked away.

"Look," he pointed out. All the victors were interlinking hands in solidarity.

Taiya let out a small laugh before quickly grabbing a hold of her fiancé's hand. She then looked beside her and held Beetee's as well. This hand-holding stunt was gaining the crowd's attention.

Once all of the victor's hands were interlinked, they raised them proudly in the air. Attracting more uproar from the crowd. It only took one look at Caesar's face to know they were having the exact effect they were after.

Unity amongst the districts.

The Capitol's biggest fear. And they didn't have time to stop it. That show of unity would have broadcast across all districts before they had time to cut it. Everyone saw it.

"What's happening out there?" Taiya asked as she burst out of the elevator and onto the district 4 floor. "Are they calling for it to be cancelled?"

"They're calling for it," Tyler nodded.

"It's not going to happen though," Buck admitted. "You two are going in tomorrow."

"You follow through on the plan though and we can get you out," Tyler reminded them.

"It's not guaranteed though," Taiya snapped as she ripped off the massive detachable skirt.

"Here," Tyler handed her and Finnick each a golden bracelet. "Your token."

"What!" both Taiya and Finnick gasped. They'd each already worked out what their token would be. Taiya's would be her ring and Finnick's his old ratty rope.

"No," Taiya tried to hand it back. "I already have a token. Thank though."

"It's from Haymitch," Tyler pushed it back toward her. "It'll help 12 trust you."

"A bracelet won't stop her from sending an arrow into us," Taiya rolled her eyes.

"Look, we promise to keep your little treasures safe and bring them with us when we get you out ok?" Buck cut her off before she could get more upset. "I promise we'll look after it."

"You two should go to bed," Tyler said sadly as he placed a hand on both of their shoulders. "You're going to need the rest," he solely smiled before walking away.

Finnick reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled her towards their room.

"You were quiet," Taiya looked up at him as they entered the room.

"I don't have much to say."

"That's never been true before," Taiya walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him from behind. "Talk to me."

"I'm not losing you tomorrow."

"You won't," Taiya confirmed. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise. I love you. It's you and me always. I promise you that."