Author's Note: Given what happens in canon, this one is bittersweet. Very much a 'what could have been' chapter.

….

Rosa

It was quiet in the Victors Village in District Ten. To Maria's disappointment, signs of rebellion were quickly quashed before the Quarter Quell and now the district had settled into a new period of stability. Farmers were barely better off than before Snow's initial reforms and after a period of peacekeeper excess, the worst had tapered off and relations were steady. Rebellion would not arrive in District Ten again for some time.

The victors had regrouped and whilst they were maintaining existing alliances, they were careful to be seen to go about their lives in the most ordinary way possible. They were popular in the district so did not see the need to hide away but they lived without drawing unnecessary attention to themselves.

But their lives changed one night shortly after the Victory Tour. District Two's newest victor had swept through the centre of the district bringing a flurry of activity, but the excitement left as quickly as it had arrived.

The three victors were sleeping and none of them noticed a woman approaching the Village in the dark. She remained alert, holding a tightly wrapped bundle close to her chest, constantly checking for peacekeepers or anyone following her. She did not want the victors to notice her either even though she needed their help.

She held the bundle tighter to her as she got closer to the houses, thankful that she had been able to get this far without being disturbed. She stopped and looked between the houses before she remembered which door she had seen Charo and Adan leave from just days before. She reached their door and placed the bundle on the doorstep before stepping back. Suddenly floodlights illuminated her presence, and the woman left the Village, running as quickly as she was able.

….

Adan stirred as the lights switched on in the Village, but upon hearing no unusual sounds, he fell back to sleep with Charo at his side. District Ten was stable and there was no need to jump out of bed and pick up a weapon as soon as the lights were activated. Those days had passed.

But it was not long before all three victors were woken by the sound of crying outside. Realising the noise was coming from their door, Charo and Adan rushed downstairs and looked outside the windows for signs of any trespassers before tentatively opening the door and standing back.

There was no trap or intruder, or nobody trying to trick the victors into parting with any money or worse. Only a baby, wrapped in a blanket, screaming into the night.

Charo rushed to pick the baby up and take it inside whilst Maria came running from her own house across the pavement, having also been woken. Adan let the older victor inside before closing the door.

"What in Panem?" Maria started.

"We've only just found her," Adan replied watching as Charo tried to soothe the crying baby.

"There's a note," the younger woman replied before handing it to Maria.

"I trust you with her.

Do what's right when I can't."

"Well, we're going to have to make do, at least until morning," Maria said. "Baby needs to be fed and kept warm. It's cool out tonight."

With that, Maria turned her attention to how they could feed the baby whilst Adan went in search of blankets. Charo remained holding the baby close, knowing what discussion they were all about to have. But her mind had been made up the second she had read the note.

As Adan arrived downstairs once more, he stopped to look at Charo. His wife, holding a baby. It was all they wanted but something that until now, they thought they could never have. They had got married after the Seventy-Fourth Games in the knowledge that everything might change but they dared not go any further. They had been trying to avoid pregnancy. They knew the risks and Adan knew they would not subside if they let this child into their lives. But she had been sent to them on purpose. Someone they did not know and might not have met has trusted them with their baby.

He caught the anxious look on Maria's face as she too studied Charo who was carefully rocking the baby as she fell back to sleep. Adan quietly approached and placed his arm around Charo, looking at both her and this new baby. He knew instantly this was what she wanted, and her brow furrowed when she saw the look on his face. He was conflicted. This was what they had dreamed about but could not have. It was always to remain a dream, except now there was a chance. But it was also dangerous, and would it be fair to risk this girl's life by keeping her with them, in the sights of the Capitol?

Maria took Adan by the arm, and led him outside where she started whispering, concerned that the lights and the sound of crying could have brought attention towards the Village, "You know Charo has made up her mind, but what do you think?"

"She's been trusted to us."

"That doesn't mean you have to keep her here. Nothing is stopping you from taking her to the community home in the morning."

"And inflict that on her? Could you do that? When someone has trusted their baby girl with us."

"No, I couldn't do that. But they're your immediate options. You can't have her here and then give her up in a few weeks or months. That would be cruel, to us all."

"So really it seems we all agree."

"In our hearts, yes. Charo wanted her from the moment she realised what had happened. You took one look at Charo holding her and I knew you were sold. I can't lie and say I hadn't wanted to find a way for you both to have what you wanted either."

"But it comes with a risk. Which is why we're having this conversation," Adan said quietly.

"Exactly. You can't hide her or keep her unregistered if she hasn't been registered already, not when you live here, and we are who we are. Besides, she needs to see a doctor and they'll have no choice but to register her. The community home would too."

"We can't hide her, so it's a matter of what game to play. How much do we show people."

"We need to talk to Cecelia. But she's still heavily watched."

"She's still worried too. Especially about her girl."

"She is. But she knows just about better than anyone else how exactly to play the game with them. She's always learning and watching how their attitudes to us have changed. They're changing again now."

"For the better?"

"Too early to tell. But none of our own ended up in that Quell."

"But in twelve years, or eighteen, who can say what will have happened by then?"

"We don't know. So, the battle to keep her out of the arena begins now, with the story we tell people."

"We have a newborn to look after too," Adan said, allowing himself to smile.

"You're going to be parents," Maria agreed. "I can't see anyone arguing with you both over it either. You and Charo focus on her. I'll start the scheming; I've been around longer than you both."

With that, Maria and Adan walked back into the house and Adan went straight to Charo's side and offered to take the baby.

"We're doing this?" Charo asked.

"I was never going to say no. I just wanted to feel like we could."

….

Maria had found the clothes she had kept from Elias, Diego's child. Those Anara had given her husband from Eleven when their child had outgrown them. But whilst this new baby was wearing the same clothes, Maria was going to use her devastation surrounding the two late victors and their poor child to ensure it would be different this time around. This new baby would not be going anywhere near an arena.

This time ought to be simpler. Charo and Adan were both from District Ten. There was no forbidden relationship to hide, and no unlawful child set to be punished in an arena. Instead, Charo and Adan had adopted a baby entrusted to them, to save them from the poverty of the community home and parents who were unable to care for their child.

Charo and Adan had named their baby Rosa Maria. The older victor was honoured and soon delighted in the time spent with the little girl. She had also managed to send word to their most trusted friends. Seeder had deciphered Maria's cryptic note and sent the remainder of Elias' clothes to Ten along with gifts for Charo and Adan. Cecelia had also sent the clothes her daughter had outgrown and promised to speak to them all when they arrived in the Capitol for the Seventy-Seventh Hunger Games.

Before they journeyed to the Capitol, the new family had been seen in public and released a statement confirming the unconventional arrival of their daughter. The public loved the story and the Victors' Village was overwhelmed with unnecessary gifts from Capitol well-wishers that Charo and Adan promptly donated or sold. It was clear that Capitol parents had different ideas as to what children needed than in District Ten.

Their friends delivered items that they knew Charo and Adan would like. Seven's victors joined together, and hand-made a cot for baby Rosa which had to be disguised on a lumber shipment headed south. Poppy had decided to keep herself busy by resuming her interior design talent with a new baby range inspired by her friends' new arrival and offered Charo and Adan the first items she prepared. Charo and Adan would gratefully accept and then offer to buy subsequent items. They knew where the money was going and did not mind adding to Six's rebel coffers for when the time came again. The victors from Three and Four were equally as generous and Charo and Adan had resolved to thank their friends for their support. They knew that their gifts were a sign of their friendship and resolve to protect someone else that now mattered to them all.

Maria had heard from Gem in District One and hoped that the almost universal popularity of her victors would lead to something new that could unite them all. There were those they missed the first time around in recruitment and Maria hoped that in the new lull, stronger bonds could be formed across the districts via their victors and their desire to protect what they loved the most.

….

The District Ten contingent arrived in the Capitol for the Seventy-Seventh Annual Hunger Games in a new flurry of popularity. They kept Rosa away from the stage during the Reaping, eager to avoid any connotations that may bring for future years. But they knew their quiet time as a four was coming to an end.

They were crowded as they left the train, their bewildered tributes in tow. Aloysius, their ever-reliable escort, led the tributes off the train with a flourish, making the most of the attention whilst it lasted. Adan guided the tributes, his hands steady on each of their shoulders, whilst keeping Charo and the baby close as Maria helped shield them from prying eyes. Charo carried Rosa on her front whilst keeping the baby's face covered before making their way out of sight as soon as possible.

Other than Aloysius, there were very few people in the Capitol that Charo and Adan wanted near their daughter, but they knew they would have to find their way around that. They would make select appearances with her and control whatever they could. They would only reveal their baby to those who they thought would do the least harm.

They were far more relaxed around the other victors and whilst they were being prepared for the parade, Charo and Adan let Seeder and Cecelia hold their daughter without any cause for concern. They also gave Rosa to Mags, knowing that she had always looked out for them and would want to share in their happiness.

But seeing the children in the chariots during the Tribute Parade brought it back to them. They were other people's children and Charo and Adan could so easily find themselves watching their own child being presented to the Capitol as a sacrifice. Cecelia saw the panic in Charo's eyes and reached out to her.

"We'll talk later."

….

Charo and Adan managed to speak to Cecelia after their tributes had fallen asleep, tired from the first day of training. Eight's victor had brought Poppy and Halley along with her, being the friends she trusted the most to help protect her own three children.

"We all know how they see us. You need to make sure they see your girl differently."

"I'm thinking of taking her to a baby group in the Capitol. Aloysius has told me about one I could go to tomorrow afternoon," Charo said.

"Perfect. I've taken my three to them and that's a decision I stand by. I still speak to some of the women I met there. They ask after the children and would be horrified to find them in the Games."

"You need to do Capitol things with her too," Halley added. "One of those fancy teas with people your age who might have children. Photos of her looking at the animals on farms back home, but not with her hands dirty working on one."

"Avoid birthdays. You don't want the reminder of her age to keep appearing. It would be no good anyone wanting to count down the years until she's eligible."

"People will always remember that though. They'll guess her age too, ask you about it even," Poppy said.

"Just don't labour the point and don't stress her association with us."

"She's already been at the parade and will be in the Mentors' Centre some of the time too."

"The parade isn't about the victors. In the Centre, don't parade her in front of the cameras with all of us cooing over her. You did right by keeping her away from the Reaping. You never want her on that stage in any capacity, it creates an image."

Cecelia paused for a few seconds before continuing, "You don't want too many pictures or publicity with her surrounded by us. It's my biggest regret with Cali."

"You couldn't avoid that though; Cali was too young to be left alone whilst you were with Cotton on the Tour."

"I know. I could be worrying about nothing, but I can't help but feel like that did nothing to help keep my girl safe. There are two weeks of images of her content with the others and crying her eyes out in the Capitol."

"Your girl's got good taste."

"And isn't that the problem, Poppy? It started the image of her being one of us."

"So, what are you saying?" Adan asked.

"Don't release photos of her with any of us, other than the two of you, and Maria of course. The pictures Chloe has said she'll take stay between us, and nobody releases them. Don't get a photo with anyone you can't trust entirely. Nothing with her posing with any of us, no official events at the Victory Tour. Nobody else will see the dinner mind you but keep her out of the way of the public events. You want Rosa to be Rosa. Yes, her parents are victors but that shouldn't be her story."

"She needs a story though, an angle, like we do."

"She already has one. A baby left on the doorstep and taken in by the best people," Poppy said.

"Yes, but we need to be careful where that goes," Cecelia said. "A kid who narrowly escaped the misfortune of the community home only to end up in an arena, potential disaster striking twice. You don't want that. No. This is the perfect adoption story, what happens when loving parents take in children when others can't look after them. A good deed, an inspiring tale, everything they'll love. Bad things don't happen to upstanding citizens. It's a story they would hate to have a bad ending."

"It helps that everyone likes you two," Halley added. "People will do things for you."

"That's the problem I have in Eight. People like me and Merino, but there's nobody who would go that far. I don't blame them either. People, other than Katniss it seems, don't even go that far for their siblings."

"Maria did mention we might need that."

"A backup volunteer, yes."

"The Fours have that community feel where it worked. More like Ten than Eight, I would imagine," Halley said, looking at Cecelia, who agreed. "When the net closed around them and it was Finn's turn, Shai happened upon a girl who was suicidal to be his district partner. It was the next best thing when a male volunteer couldn't be found."

"But it's too big a request," Charo said.

"I know. That's why if the worst happens, we're the ultimate backup plan. I know these two have my back," Cecelia said. "I can count on the Sevens too, and the pair of you, because you're good like that. And because you know if you found yourself in the same situation, I'd have your back too. Be fair to your own district's kids of course, but everything else to help each other. It's what we do. We're the only people we can completely trust."

….

District Ten's floor had a constant stream of visitors during the nights when the tributes were asleep. Chaff and Seeder knew their boy stood a good chance of coming home but that did not prevent either victor from spending time with their friends and their baby. Seeder loved holding Rosa and the baby was equally content being held by the woman from Eleven. Charo and Adan knew they would look at photos of Chaff with their daughter with fondness. Eleven's victor was standing with their baby in the crook of his arm and a bottle in his good hand, warning her of the dangers of bad habits whilst finishing the latest of his vices.

Haymitch was less confident at holding the baby, concerned that his hands would shake and that he would drop her. So, there are photos of Peeta holding Rosa in the air whilst Haymitch and Katniss laughed along with the baby's excitement. Charo and Adan knew of Katniss and Peeta's predicament so swore they would keep the photos secret and not mention the pair of them when asked about how the other victors were enjoying the company of their newest arrival.

Seven's victors were happy to pass the baby between them and sing various songs which made the little girl laugh. Even Johanna was keen to join in and told Charo that Rosa was good fun for someone so little. She was very fond of the pair from Ten and had always felt an understanding with Adan and secretly told him she would kill anyone who tried to harm Rosa. Behind her laughter, Adan knew Johanna was serious and he was equally serious when he told her he would remember the offer.

Charo and Adan were surprised to receive gifts from Barric and Maizey, on behalf of all of Nine's victors. They had sat alongside each other for years and Maizey confirmed that all the district's victors wished the family well.

It was difficult for Poppy to see Linden holding the baby and looking at ease with Rosa in his arms. They had lost their chance at a life together when the rebellion failed to ignite, and Poppy had begun to allow herself to dream of the chance of a family. But she tried to put aside her emotions and enjoy spending time with her friends and watching their family grow.

Four's victors were used to being around babies and quickly doted on Rosa, bringing along with them more gifts and mementoes from Four. As he had done with each of Cecelia's children, Finnick had brought Rosa a toy trident and promised Charo and Adan that he would provide a real one when she was old enough. Ten's victors knew from Cecelia that was a promise Finnick would follow through with.

Mags spent a lot of time holding Rosa and Charo and Adan knew that Four's oldest victor could be relied upon to dote on their daughter as she had done them. She had taken them to heart and was delighted that they had the chance at some happiness that was so routinely denied to the victors.

Three's victors had already sent over their main gift, a handmade mobile for Rosa's room showing the planets in orbit. But they had brought with them more practical items which Charo and Adan were grateful for. Halley also offered up her babysitting duties if Ten's victors wanted some time to themselves in amongst the busy nature of the Games.

To their surprise, Brutus and Lyme also visited Ten's floor, bearing gifts, and voicing their approval of the baby. But as Maria's friend, it was Gem from One who spent a lot of time on Ten's floor. Maria trusted Gem implicitly and so Charo and Adan did too. They left One's victor holding Rosa whilst they attended to their tributes and carried out other Games-related tasks.

Gem had also managed to update Maria on the new expectations set for the more popular victors.

"The new woman in Victors' Affairs is not as interested in the infamy some of us have. Does not want us in prominent social circles or on Capitol arms."

"So, what is she planning?"

"A new angle for us all. Of course, she will not stop the prostitution completely, that would anger too many prominent figures, but it will be kept quieter, involving fewer victors too. But Cashmere and Gloss have been told to fade, that their star power is declining, and they should allow the Capitol to become bored with them."

"I don't see that happening easily, or quickly. They're as popular as they ever were."

"I know. They do too. So, they are not being offered a quick escape. But they have been told to settle down, so interest fades faster. They are to be on the lookout for suitable spouses and told to reinvent themselves as family orientated."

"Snow wants them to have children. So we have more victors' kids in the arena."

"Precisely. Maria, I know that's your greatest fear now and if we are going to be pushed into the same position, then I have your back and I know they will too."

"Cashmere and Gloss haven't even come up here."

"It has spooked them. They do not want the reminder. It's a shame, Cashmere likes babies, but she only wanted a family if it could be on her terms."

"Now that's being taken away from her too."

"Exactly. Gloss will find the first vaguely suitable woman and get on with it, pretending that life goes on as normal. But Cashmere will not want that."

"If Cashmere is going to spend more time over it, you can guide her surely."

"That is what I intend to do. I am already trying to think of potential matches," Gem said. Leaning closer to Maria she whispered, "Not an obvious rebel. Not a loyalist of course. But someone from a background befitting of what will be expected who we can pull our way."

"You're going to do it?"

"Should be easy. Gloss has long been disillusioned and tensions are only growing between him, Luxor and Gus. Cashmere is angry and upset. We need to rebuild our numbers and who better?"

"Let me know what you need me to do. But what about the others?"

"Gus and Aria will be phased out of the lions' den in time. Topaz and Luxor are on 'regulars' only. They only see people who they have remained a favourite of. Noah has been the same for a couple of years. Finnick took the interest from him. I imagine Finnick will have been told something like Gloss and Cashmere and I don't know how the Fours will keep him and Annie private."

"It's known among us. They might have to extend the circle to a need-to-know basis."

"But we can be trusted, Maria. We're victors, we get it. The Capitol don't and need-to-know will end up meaning the entire Capitol needs to know so they no longer buy Finnick."

"We'll have to do as Mags and Chloe tell us on that one."

….

District Ten's tributes died at the Cornucopia, as they so often did. Charo and Adan were relieved to be able to leave the Mentors' Centre so quickly, but it brought back to them the risk their daughter could be facing.

"How did it go at the group?"

"They were nice enough. Rosa tried to play with the other babies, and they didn't know she's not one of them, so it didn't matter. She seemed to enjoy herself. I played along with the whole thing, never mentioning the Games, and talking about baby things. But they all have nannies, so they don't know. Some of them were nice, and they all seemed keen to congratulate us on doing the right thing by her."

"As if we were going to do anything else. She's a baby and after everything, I like to think we're good people, Charo."

"The Capitol certainly think so and we need to keep them thinking that. How did your thing go?"

"I don't know how Aloysius found it but there are lots of rich Capitols wanting to adopt babies who have been placed into community care. There are lots of poor people here too. But that's something for us to think about another day. But like you, they were very keen to congratulate us on being upstanding citizens and some of them genuinely wanted to know what it was like suddenly finding yourself holding a baby."

"It's something you can't prepare for. No matter how rich you are."

"I told them that. It's a shame that we have to prepare for so much more ahead of us."

"We can do it, Adan."

"I know we can. We're a team and a family now. We've worked well together since you pulled me from that arena."

"You did that yourself. You were stronger than you thought and now you know your strength, we're brilliant together."