Author's Note: Cecelia's and the other victors' perspectives on Wednesday's chapter.

….

Unity

"I knew Cecelia would be a screamer," Linden sighed as Seven's victors watched the reaping unfold in District Eight. Calista, Cecelia's only daughter had been reaped and Eight's most senior victor screamed as she heard her girl's name called.

Blight just glared at Linden and shook his head.

"I don't mean anything bad by it. My mother screamed too, and deep down, I think we all knew this was a possibility."

"Possibility or not, it's going to be awful."

"Do you think it's because of what happened when we got home last year?"

"Who knows? They're certainly playing games with the Eights."

"I thought we were supposed to be irrelevant now?"

"Cecelia clearly isn't, so we better watch our backs," Blight concluded.

….

Poppy blanched as she heard Cali's name at the reaping. The district's escort sitting next to her squealed in excitement and it took all Poppy's energy to compose herself and not throttle the woman. She gave the usual summary to District Six tributes she knew did not stand a chance before excusing herself to gather her thoughts.

She was not going to abandon her tributes and one of them might surprise her. She would do her best by District Six as she always did before turning her attention to Cecelia and her daughter. District Eight's woman would understand, and Poppy knew she would come out in force for the girl she had been named as auntie to as soon as the time was right.

Kersey Paylor had been shot dead and Cecelia and Calico taken away by peacekeepers and Poppy still did not have the full details of what happened. She had spent days terrified for her friends until Cecelia ensured they were photographed in District Eight's centre so everyone would know that they were alive. But Poppy wondered if the peacekeepers had known something all along and those in charge had ensured Cali's reaping to punish Cecelia.

But there would be no time to sit and question whether everything was linked and what else might await one of her dearest friends. She knew there would be no chance of talking about what happened last year now either. It would all pale into insignificance. Poppy would arrive in the Capitol, tributes in tow, with her friend to support in what would be a terrible thirtieth anniversary of her own Games.

….

"Are you saying you knew Cecelia's girl would be reaped?" Beetee asked Wiress.

"No. I just felt that I would be needed in the Capitol this year, so I decided to come along. Now I know why. Pluto said he would be fine at home. I will mentor the girl and Halley can be with Cecelia."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. It's what Halley needs me to do."

"You've never lost your instincts," Beetee sighed.

"Sometimes, I wish my instincts would tell me more. Why all this? It seems obvious after what we saw last year but is that too obvious? It can't be a coincidence, but is it punishment? And punishment for what? What's happened in Eight that Cecelia's lost control over?"

….

The look on Cecelia's face as the victors prepared for the Tribute Parade took Chloe back to the night Kersey Paylor was shot. Footage from District Eight had ended with Cecelia and Calico being escorted away by peacekeepers, a message to them all if there ever was one. Panem's leadership had changed but the danger for the victors continued.

Finnick had run into Chloe and Coral's house in a panic and was swiftly followed by Noah and Dora who had been watching the footage together. Nobody knew whether peacekeepers in Eight knew about the depths of Cecelia's involvement or whether there had been a security breach that would impact them too. Chloe knew she would not have to sound the alarm to Beetee and Liev, they would know what to do in their homes, and Chloe knew she could trust the others too. Communications between them would cease and District Eight would have to be cut off until they had assurances it was safe.

The trust among the victors was something they would need as they would all watch Cecelia's daughter enter the arena in a matter of days. The last line of defence for Cecelia's children if they found themselves in the Hunger Games was the support of her fellow victors. Chloe knew they would have to deliver even though they had not communicated for months.

Chloe saw Seeder and Maria immediately move to Cecelia's side as she arrived and Chloe knew she had to join too, to confirm to everyone where Four's victors stood this year. She would have to step up and be the woman Mags had coached her to be.

She walked over to the small group forming around Cecelia and took the woman's hands, "Anything you need, let us know. Song and Noah will mentor ours, you have the rest of us at your disposal."

….

A representative from most of the districts gathered on Four's floor, just as they did for Calico's Games six years previously. Finnick was once again leading the charge and he knew the stakes were higher this time. He was personally invested in the outcome, having tried to help Cecelia equip her children as best he could from Four's Village. Finnick had loved Cecelia from the start. He was determined to do all he could to help.

Halley confirmed the room was safe to talk and Finnick started, "We know who we want to win. We need to make it happen."

"I'll be in from the start. Wiress is mentoring instead."

"Charo and I are upholding our agreement with Cecelia. She deserves our support," Adan said.

"She's helped us from the start too," Peeta echoed. "Katniss and I are in, and you know what Haymitch is like."

The group laughed before Finnick turned to Lyme.

"You know I can hardly tell my lot we're all in for Eight, especially when we have a typically strong year. But I'm not mentoring. Malachite and Remus will be focusing on our pair, and I will do what I can quietly. I have also made our orders clear. They are to leave Calista alone unless they are presented with no choice. If they have to act, it is to be quick, clean and no fussing about."

"Will they listen?"

"If they're smart then they will. I've made it very clear that if they were to come home having acted contrary to our orders, they wouldn't be welcome in the Mentors' Centre, and I can make things plenty difficult for them at home. Cecelia is universally liked. Most of us here saw the girl when she was a baby. They'll be an outcast and we've instilled into them enough obedience that they will listen."

"It's the best we've got. But we know what to do. Sponsors, open support for Cecelia, watching over the girl when we're needed. Make them want Cali to win. There's no story to spin that won't be uncomfortable in some way but make it something special after the drama last year. Follow Cecelia's lead too, if she gives us something. If there's enough demand for Cali to come home, the Gamemakers will keep her around."

….

Cotton was doing her best to put on a brave face. There was no way she was not coming to the Capitol, even after her long absence. She remembered Calico's firm words before they left, making sure Cotton knew she had no choice but to step up and hold herself together. Cecelia could not look after her this year, and she would need to be an asset.

So, Cotton was determined to put on a brave face. District Ten's victors had kindly offered to support her with the sponsors and so far, they had each been at Cotton's side as she lined up support for Cecelia's daughter.

District Eight had their male tribute to think about too. But Cotton had watched Calico step up beyond everyone's estimation, doing her best to let the boy know he had someone in his corner. As Cecelia escorted Cali from the stage at the Reaping, Calico moved closer to the boy, brought him towards her and let him know he could count on her.

Of course, that would never extend to harming Calista's interests, but Calico was not going to allow divides in District Eight to be sown. The victors would do their utmost regardless of who they were handed. It was the right thing to do for the boy and his family.

The tributes would ally at the start, the boy being sensible enough to know that might maximise his chances of survival and good publicity. Calico and Cotton were attending events together wherever they could and simply allowing the Capitols to flock to them as they were taken in by the disaster that had befallen Cecelia and the choices that Eight's victors had to make.

It was obvious to everyone that Cecelia was straining every sinew for her daughter. She was desperate to ensure Cali's survival but did not want to appear so in front of the sponsors. But she would beg if she had to, only Cotton and Calico were determined for that not to happen. They were all going to every event, forcing their escort to work harder than before and were starting to reap the rewards in Cali's favour.

….

"I want to help," Aria started. "I am ready and Cecelia has always been good to me."

"Only if you're sure you are ready. You are under my watch because Cashmere is mentoring and she will be furious if anything happens."

"We can try the lunch tomorrow. Stay with me. If I want to leave after an hour, we can leave. Cashmere and Theodore will still be there for our two and I will not be missed."

"You know we have to get something for ours before we leave? We can only suggest Cecelia's girl as a second option for now?"

"Of course. I've not been mentoring but I have been here long enough to understand."

"I just want to make sure we are on the same page. You go out there again and there will be expectations. Cecelia will not want you going backwards for her sake."

"It is the right time. The lunch tomorrow. An event on the first or second day and that will be enough for now. I need to do something other than be sold, steal their jewellery and sell it back to them a year later."

"It is becoming a pretty successful con, Aria."

"It is giving me a laugh and the district some more money. It helps, a little. Helping Cecelia will help more."

….

They were all dreading the start of the Games, but the day of the bloodbath approached quickly and before Cecelia was ready, she had walked her daughter to her hovercraft and taken her seat in the Mentors' Centre.

Both Adan and Charo met her tearful eyes with upset of their own. They were about to watch Cecelia endure their worst nightmare. It had brought back to them the reality of the danger that Rosa could face. Cecelia had not been able to save her daughter from the arena and it had made them doubt their plans too.

The upset was made worse as Cashmere walked into the Mentors' Centre, saw Cecelia's tears, and instinctively placed her hand over her stomach. Cecelia realised immediately. One's victor had been trying to hide her pregnancy but now her worry was obvious, and Cecelia knew that had she not been singularly focused on Calista, she would have figured it out and talked Cashmere through her plans to protect her new child. Having watched both victors' interaction, Gem walked in front of Cashmere and directed her to her seat before looking to District Eight's victors to confirm they would speak later. Even more victors were about to find themselves knowing the fear that Cecelia was enduring.

Cecelia held hands with Calico and Cotton, waiting for the start. She was distraught that she may have said goodbye to her girl and was struggling to focus. Halley was at her side too, making notes of sponsorship items available from the start and their prices. She had also tried to frame the arena as something that could work in Calista's favour, but Cecelia was zoning in and out. All she could think of was that her daughter was going into the arena. It did not matter what form it took; it would forever be her daughter's living nightmare and Cecelia's next hell too.

"A meadow can work in her favour. I know something more urban might be more familiar, but with long-range weapons, this can work better."

Realising that Cecelia was not listening to her musings, Halley leaned closer to Cecelia, placed her hand on her shoulder and whispered, "It's going to be okay. Everything we can, together. You know me. Finn has your back too, from the start. Poppy will be here the second she can."

All too soon, Calista appeared on the screen, and it was as if a switch flicked in Cecelia. She became laser-focused on her daughter, her vitals and the observations she was making. Hot tears ran down Cecelia's face as the countdown started and Calista's heart rate jumped.

"Keep calm, darling. Don't lose focus now."

Calista's heart rate continued to increase until there were thirty seconds to go. Then she found her breathing and focused. Cecelia saw her daughter's eyes home in on the trident and the spears and then glance towards the tributes from Four who she knew would also be vying for the same weapons.

With ten seconds to go, Calista steadied herself, planted her feet to leave the pedestal and waited for the countdown to reach zero. Cecelia watched as her daughter's eyes switched between the clock and the tridents ahead of her.

Then she was running, and Cecelia knew her daughter had changed forever. Calista had killed the girl from District Four over the trident they both wanted before running away from the bloodbath and seeking relative safety with her district partner.

Cecelia could not find the words and before she fully had control over her response, she reached to the bin under the District Eight desk to be sick. She had watched her daughter kill another child and she was horrified. She understood now more than ever what the Games could do to a victor's family and why so many of them had struggled to maintain relationships with their families at home. She had done the same and her parents struggled, but Cecelia could never do that to Cali.

Calista had played the Games so far exactly to Cecelia's instructions. They both knew Calista would have to kill to come home and Cecelia was surprised by her horror. But Cali was her little girl who had grown up in a matter of seconds and would have to live with the after-effects forever. But once the initial emotions had subsided, Cecelia felt a strange relief that her daughter did have what it took to become a victor.

Finnick and Song were at her side as she looked up, "Don't think about apologising," Four's woman said.

"It's a job well done," Finnick echoed. "We can get your girl home after that. It was smart, she has her favoured weapon now and has brought herself some Gamemaker free time. I'm off to talk your girl up so you better join me when you're ready."

Cecelia watched as the Fours left before turning to Calico and Cotton.

"I need to sort myself out."

"Go upstairs, freshen up. Then go with Calico to the sponsors. I'll stay here with Halley. You can trust me," Cotton said as she smoothed Cecelia's hair.

"Cali's put in a victor's performance, Cecelia. We need to match it here. She's got rid of one of her biggest opponents and now we need to take sponsors from them too."

….

"Is it bad that I want Cecelia's girl to come home?" Enobaria asked Lyme in a quiet moment on Two's floor.

"Not at all. It's what you should want."

"You're saying you don't want a Two to win and you're happy that Eight is targeting our sponsors? You, of all people. Don't let Brutus hear you say that."

"Calista is Brutus' third choice and getting him to think beyond Two is something," Lyme said. "I've already sponsored Cecelia's girl and you can do the same. You saw who I was speaking to earlier. Hand him some of your cash and he'll sort it. Cecelia will know where the money is coming from."

"Why do I think this is something you've done before?"

"I don't do it every year," Lyme laughed.

"Don't tell me you did it for the Twelves!"

"Haymitch didn't need my money. Not after Mags' and Finnick's efforts. Besides, all that star-crossed lovers tripe was sickening. Although, I did slip Cecelia a good amount for Calico," she whispered.

"The same Paylor girl whose aunt was shot?" Enobaria hissed.

"Why not? It was the first chance to say something back and it worked."

"Satisfying, I get it. But wasn't it dangerous?"

Lyme laughed again, "No more dangerous than anything else I'm doing."

"When will you tell me all of what you're up to your neck in?"

"In good time, Baria. You need to keep working on your projects first. I know you won't like the politicking, so leave that to me."

"And I'll gather the troops, I get it."

"If people can see their loyalty should be to Two and not the Capitol, they'll start to think. That's what you're doing with the kids and their families. Wanting them to be the best they can for the district."

"The whole serving the Capitol and giving them our best never really sat right with me."

"I could tell it didn't. So, I supported Cleo when she vouched for you at tribute selection."

"And your master plan worked out nicely," Enobaria laughed. "Nice to know I'm so easy to read."

"You're not to most people. Just those with a good radar. It's why you get on with Poppy, Halley and Cecelia and they like you back. You should be making use of that friendship this year. Cement yourself with them and play up on your affections to the sponsors. Suggest Calista as a wildcard for our sponsors who like to make another bet. Even Brutus won't mind you doing that."

….

All Cecelia could hear in the Sponsors' Hall was her daughter's name. Her daughter was being made into a commodity, yet this was the only way to save her. The Capitol would want more of Cali, but this interest would allow her to outlive so many of the other tributes.

Cecelia listened in on Katniss and Peeta closing a significant sponsorship arrangement for her daughter given that both of their tributes were killed in the bloodbath. Twelve's pair brought the sponsor to her to cement the deal and as soon as Cecelia had shaken the woman's hand and watched her sign the paperwork, Katniss squeezed her hand, "Call it a thank you from us. A debt repaid for helping us in our arena. It's a bit late but we repay our debts in Twelve."

"I'm sure Effie will come through too," Peeta added. "She's invited Haymitch to another lunch with one of her friends. He'll moan but Effie still knows all the right people."

Alongside them, Charo and Marshall were trying to persuade a shared connection of theirs to split their usual bet between Ten and Eleven into three to send some funds in District Eight's direction. Much to Cecelia's surprise, Porter was using the same technique on one of her regular sponsors. It seemed that despite their distance, Porter did grasp some of the understandings between the victors. She would have known that Cecelia had indirectly sponsored Soleil last year and whilst she would not understand the reasons why, she was trying to repay her for her efforts.

Cecelia arrived back at the Mentors' Centre having never spoken to so many people, overwhelmed and exhausted.

"Go lay down. I'm not silly enough to suggest sleep because we all know that won't be happening, but I've got it all under control here," Halley said.

Cecelia did not have the energy to argue with Halley. Calista was not in immediate danger, so she decided to take her friend's advice and pretend to sleep on one of the sofas at the back of the Mentors' Centre.

As she was lying down, she heard the others return from attempting to charm the sponsors.

"It's working," Halley whispered to Finnick. "Calico said District Eight hasn't had this much money in years."

"It's for a good cause. Besides, there should be more coming. I've managed to convince some of my regulars, and not the ones interested in women either, to send some money Eight's way. The most they'll want for their investment is for Cali to wear some of their ridiculous clothes."

"We can work with that if this all goes to plan. We've done it before with Calico, we just have to make it work again. It needs to work, Finn."

….

Cashmere was horrified as the Games continued. Cecelia's daughter had killed Four's girl at the very start and then moved to a hiding place. It was the best start an outlier who was not going to ally with the volunteers could get. But Cecelia had watched her daughter kill another child and whilst Cecelia had done the same, and Cashmere had too, watching your child do the same had to be a new trauma entirely.

From the moment Calista was reaped, Cashmere felt ill. She was pregnant and desperately hoping that she could avoid Calista's fate for her child. One had already lost a victor's child and then their victor after the Second Quarter Quell. Cashmere could not bear for history to repeat itself with her baby and now, she knew that the risk remained real.

Her life was always a game for the Capitol, and she would be involving her child in that too. She had no idea how Charo and Adan were coping, watching their shared nightmare unfold through Cecelia's eyes. She had not been able to talk to them yet either. Cashmere knew from Gem's enduring friendship with Maria that Ten's couple could be a source of support, and she wanted to get to know them better. But now the circumstances were wrong, and Cashmere sat with her quiet panic alone.

She watched as Calista left her hiding place, separated amicably from her district partner and killed the first tribute who ran into her in a panic. It was clear that the girl despised what she had done and was trying to scratch the boy's blood from her hands to remove the evidence of what she had been forced to do. Cecelia was trying to talk to her girl through the screen to reassure her and parachuted in water bottles so her daughter could wash her hands and drink water she knew was safe. It was their way of communicating and for Cashmere, their bond was evident, even through a television screen in the Mentors' Centre.

Cashmere also realised the depths of the other victors' efforts to help the women from Eight. The sponsorship efforts were obvious and the only time she could remember something similar happening was for Finnick during his Games as a thank-you to Mags.

But now it was Finnick Odair himself helping to lead the charge with Halley at his side. Calista's actions in the arena had also made clear that the assistance went beyond sponsorship efforts and had been ongoing for years. It was strange for a girl from District Eight to favour a trident and to be so obviously skilled in using one. There was a reason she killed Four's girl to get to it and so far, she had made no efforts to find a knife, her mother's weapon of choice, which was what Cashmere predicted the girl would opt for.

Calista could throw a spear too. Hallmarks of District Four weaponry and Cashmere realised that she could see evidence of Chloe's technique in Calista's throws as she used the weapon to source food. Despite her age, Four's victor was still seen as the best example of the technique involved in spear throwing and videos of her Games were used in District One's teaching. It would not have been impossible for Cecelia to obtain this footage and use it as an example to her daughter.

Cashmere realised that this had all been part of Cecelia's plan to try to save her children. The victors were her final defence if her children were to enter an arena and so far, it had served Calista well. Cashmere hoped that her fellow victors would do the same for her if she ever found herself in the same position. But for it to work, she would have to make better attempts at integrating beyond the traditional volunteer victors. The life of her baby could depend on it.

….

Cecelia was holding onto Calico and Cotton's hands as the finale drew on. Cotton was crying as Calista was heavily injured and in obvious pain following her battle with the boy from District One. As Cali gathered herself, she whispered for her mother which only brought greater distress to Cecelia.

By this point, it could not be clearer where the mood in the Mentors' Centre lie. District Two's victors stood watching their girl with some of the victors from One at their side. But behind the women from Eight, Halley and Poppy stood with a hand on Cecelia's shoulders, urging Cali on as she faced Two's volunteer. Finnick was standing alongside them, confident that they were going to emerge victorious.

Linden and Blight were close behind along with the victors from Ten, Eleven and Twelve who stood in silence, hoping that they were not about to see Cecelia fall apart. They knew it was a moment that would forever change the dynamic of the Mentors' Centre. Either they were about to watch their friend lose their daughter or that same girl would join them next year, in a horror she would share with Cecelia. But they wanted Cali alive. They could face whatever came next together because that was what they had always aimed to do.

As Calista was lifted from the arena, severely injured but alive, the Capitol's cameras could barely find her mother as she was surrounded by her fellow victors. Calico, Cotton, Poppy and Halley had their arms around her and District Seven's victors could hardly hide their joy. Haymitch and Chaff were toasting to their new victor as Katniss, Peeta and Marshall rolled their eyes. Seeder was at pains to calm the pair down as they began to toast to the good fortune of District Eight but would quietly share their wishes later as the initial excitement of their new victor calmed down.

Cecelia graciously shook the hands of District Two's mentors in the traditional routine as her girl was lifted from the arena and to her surprise, Lyme pulled her in for a hug and whispered away from the cameras, "Good job, Cecelia. Don't ever doubt that Baria and I wanted your girl out. We'll do what we can to see that she's alright too."

There was so much for Cecelia to do in the immediate aftermath and all she wanted to do was see her daughter. But whilst Cali was in surgery, Cecelia had to partake in tasteless interviews with Lucretius Flickerman comparing her horror to him taking over the interviewing role from his father whilst preparing for her daughter's crowning ceremony.

She had to protect Cali too. To ensure her daughter left the hospital, and not a Capitol version of the young woman they wanted, she, along with Calico, Cotton, Poppy and Halley, ensured there was a constant presence at Cali's side who would follow her strict instructions.

Cecelia was grateful to Chloe for marshalling Four's victors in their public support for her daughter as their newest victor and to Ten's victors for not forgetting her own needs and ensuring that she had food, clean clothes and a pillow to rest her head at every chance she had. She knew why they were so invested but it was also obvious that they were genuine in their concern and Cecelia knew that they would be peaceful company for Cali when they were released back to the Training Centre.

The Sevens as a group were an excitable bunch, buoyed by what they deemed a personal victory over the Capitol. Cecelia hoped that Linden and Blight could find a quiet moment to spend with her and Cali. There was a reason she had designated them her children's uncles after all, and she hoped to introduce Fern to her daughter as another young victor and easy friend to have.

She supposed it was a victory over the Capitol. Her daughter was alive, and this was the best outcome possible given the dire circumstances. But the fact remained that the Capitol had targeted her family and Cecelia did not know how much the Capitol knew about their leadership of Eight's rebel efforts and whether Cali's reaping was a deliberate punishment. There could be no doubt that the reaping was purposeful, but Cecelia did not know how precarious her position was and how best to respond. She was doubting herself about every choice she had made and what could have avoided setting them down the path they were on.

But Calista would come home, and her family would remain whole and intact. She remembered her husband's words to do everything she could to bring Cali home, her youngest son's tears and her eldest's pleas to bring his sister back to them and she had managed it. Her daughter's bravery, skill and determination combined with the unified efforts of her friends had brought Cali from the arena. Cecelia would have to take strength from their enduring support as she embarked on her new journey as the parent of a new victor, re-traumatised from living another arena through her daughter's eyes. But she had always been strong and now Cali needed her. It would be the start of a new era for Cecelia, one that she had done everything she could to avoid. But she would have to make new plans for the future that involved her family staying alive whilst two of them were victors.