Mags and I got off the elevator at the ground floor of the tribute center, where our chariots were waiting for the opening ceremonies to begin. I was regretting the loss of Adonia and Titania more than ever, since my new stylist had dressed me in the very outfit Adonia and I had joked about for years. I never imagined anyone would actually make it for me, but there I was wearing nothing but a net, strategically knotted to cover any parts of my body that should be hidden on camera. The more Finnick the sponsors saw, the better. My eyes scanned over my fellow tributes. They all looked ridiculous. Children dressed up in costumes for the parade was silly, but grown adults, mostly middle-aged with several more in the latter years of their lives, their bodies dilapidated beyond repair due to drugs, alcohol, and other coping mechanisms... they looked awful. The opening ceremonies would be a joke this year. My eyes landed on Katniss, petting the horse attached to her chariot while her twin was off talking to Cinna. I picked up a handful of sugar cubes, remembering our first meeting, nine years ago, and strolled up to my wife.

I crunched down loudly on the sugar cube, my mouth close to her ear. "Hello Katniss," I said, allowing the seductive purr I used in the Capitol to coat the syllables in her name.

"Finnick Odair," She acknowledged, not turning around, and continuing to stroke the horse.

"Did you want a sugar cube?" I asked her. "They're supposed to be for the horses, but who cares about them, right? They've got years left to eat sugar, whereas you and I... If we see something sweet-" Katniss turned around finally, and her eyes widened at our proximity. "We better grab it." I finished, my voice dropping.

"Not right now," She answered, her voice barely a whisper. "But I would love to borrow your outfit sometime."

I laughed softly. "You look pretty terrifying in that get-up. What happened to all those pretty little girl dresses?" I took a lock of her dark, curly hair in my hands and twirled it around my fingers.

"I outgrew them," She said, her breath tickling my face.

"You certainly did," I smirked, my voice barely audible, even for my own ears. Our lips were merely a hair's width apart.

It was Katniss who closed the short distance between us, Her soft pink lips caressing my own. My hands went around her hips, drawing her closer and closer and closer. Katniss cupped my cheek with one hand and held onto the nape of my neck with the other, her fingers playing with the soft, short hairs.

I had been apart from my wife for two weeks, and it felt like a lifetime. After five months together, I wasn't sure I would be able to deal with her sudden absence, especially since I had to put up with suitor after suitor in the Capitol, committing a sin I thought I would be done with once I proposed to Katniss on national television, but I had been wrong.

I heard someone clear their throat behind us. "Excuse me, Mr. Odair, Miss Everdeen. Direct physical contact between tributes is prohibited before-"

I didn't pull away from my wife. I didn't even open my eyes. I flipped the peacekeeper off over my shoulder.

"Mr. Odair, I will have to ask you to remove yourself from your fellow tribute." The peacekeeper tried again

I briefly broke off the kiss to hiss out: "Piss off!"

"Mr. Odair, this is against proper conduct."

I finally turned to face the peacekeeper, who stood uncomfortably close to us. I was sick and tired of Capitol men trying to tell me what and what not to do with my own wife. I was going to die in a few days. Why couldn't I do what I wanted? "Whatever." I muttered finally, turning back to Katniss, the regret in her eyes mirroring my own. I wanted to talk to her in private. To hold her and love her. Instead, I simply kissed her hand. "I'll see you tonight, Love."

She nodded. "I love you, Finnick."

I repeated the words and walked away, running into Johanna on my way over to my chariot.

"Hello fish brains," she said, her voice piecing through my ears.

"Happy Hunger Games!" I said in response, putting on a fake Capitol accent.

"I really don't know who's favor the odds will be in," Johanna said with a smirk, adjusting her tree hat. "Snow hates us all equally."

I shrugged. "Probably Brutus. He volunteered."

"Did you get a chance to talk to his District partner? Clove what's-her-face from last year?"

"I spoke to her briefly last year."

Johanna grinned. "She's a riot. Straight up cursed the president, loud and clear, right in front of me. Haymitch and Beetee would like her."

I stared at her. Never would I imagine that the District 2 girl had a rebellious streak, but she must have done something to get on the president's bad side. "I think we planned on meeting them tonight, didn't we?" I asked carefully.

"Yes, but Beetee's hosting this time around."

I nodded, blew her a kiss sarcastically, and walked past my own chariot to the District 1 chariot. I hugged both of the siblings.

"I'm so sorry you and Katniss had to cancel your wedding," Cashmere said. "I can't imagine how devastating that must be for both of you.

"Thank you," I said. I almost forgot that Gloss and Cashmere never found out about our elopement. In fact, no one here knew about us. Just Mags, Britt, Peeta, and Haymitch.

"How is Katniss? I saw that the two of you haven't been apart since the announcement," Gloss said.

I shrugged. "How are any of us, really? She had a rough few weeks after the announcement, but she seems to be doing much better."

"That's good," Gloss said. Cashmere nodded in agreement. I left them and went back to my chariot, nodding in Clove's direction when I felt her eyes on me.

She was so young. Of course, I knew she was more than capable of killing, just like the rest of us, but she was barely sixteen years old and she was going into the arena, with tributes twice her age. Any tribute older than Chaff wasn't a threat at all, but Brutus, Zahra, District 1, Johanna, Katniss, me... we had to be an intimidating bunch for someone that small.

...

The tribute parade went swimmingly. My costume was well received by the crowd, but their attention was captured by Katniss and Peeta, looking lethal, wearing the embers of a fire, glaring menacingly. They did not smile. They did not hold hands. They were above it all.

Britt came to find Mags and me, and we spoke in hushed tones about nothing in particular. Strategy, sponsors, the Games, Effie Trinket's hair.

I heard Haymitch's loud laugh and looked up to see Chaff kissing Katniss. I felt myself scowling, despite my efforts to keep my mask of happiness up, and my feet carried me in their direction, tuning out Britt and Mags.

"-just saying hello, sweetheart," Haymitch said.

"Hello," I said, joining their conversation, my arm wrapping around Katniss's waist protectively, causing Haymitch and Chaff to laugh even harder.

"Sorry, Chaff," I said, pulling Katniss to the elevator. "She's a taken woman. Find someone else, please."

I laughed at the perplexed expression on Katniss's face, but as soon as she heard my laughter, her glare was back in place. I led her into the elevator, but before the doors could close, Peeta, Haymitch, and Johanna joined us. I noticed she was missing her headpiece. Just before the doors closed, Clove squeezed in with her mentor, a woman named Lyme.

"My stylist," Johanna began when the doors closed, "Is such an idiot. I would love to plunge my axe into her face. I wish I had Cinna."

Katniss nodded, but said nothing.

Johanna turned around in front of me. "Unzip, Finn?"

"Sure. How far?" I asked her, feeling Katniss's eyes on me.

"All the way is fine," She told me. Katniss nudged me out of the way the moment I touched the zipper and did it herself. Johanna laughed. "No need to be jealous, Katniss. He's a trained professional after all."

Katniss rolled her eyes. "I know that better than most," She said quietly so only Johanna and I could hear her.

Haymitch laughed loudly at Johanna's words.

"She's not the only jealous one," Peeta said. "You should have seen the way Finnick ran across the room when Chaff tried to kiss her."

That set both Haymitch and Johanna off. After their laughter died off, Johanna looked around the elevator, searching for a new person to torment. Her eyes settled on Clove, who was standing silently in the corner. "So how does it feel now that everyone wants to sleep with you?"

Clove frowned. "Not everyone wants to sleep with me," She argued as Johanna kicked off her dress.

"Of course they do," I said, pulling Katniss in close to me. "We're victors. Everyone wants to sleep with a young, new, pretty victor."

"I'm sixteen," Clove spat out, as if it was a strong argument. Everyone stared at Clove for a moment, and then Haymitch and Katniss glanced at me.

"So was I," I said. Katniss took my hand in her own and squeezed it.

Clove said nothing, not quite understanding my meaning.

Johanna had nothing left to say. As often as she liked to joke about me being a trained professional, President Snow's pet, and all the other things she liked to call me, as soon as I brought it up myself in a semi-serious light, she acted like she was walking on eggshells.

The doors opened on the first floor. "This is my stop," She said. "I'm going to have a drink with Cashmere to numb my mind so that I stop thinking about the bloody, unavoidable death that is coming for us all. Cheers!"

We were silent for quite some time after her departure, mulling her words over.

Lyme was the first to speak. "That was Johanna Mason, District 7," She said to her tribute.

"Charming," Clove muttered.

"Where's Brutus?" Haymitch asked her.

"Why should I know?" Clove asked. "I've spent the past few days avoiding him."

"You won't join him in the arena?" Katniss asked.

"Not unless there's at least two other tributes in our alliance. I don't trust him."

"No one does," I told her. "We all hate him."

"He'll be the first target for most," Haymitch added. "He's made too many enemies over the years."

Lyme nodded in agreement.

I remembered Katniss's first year as a mentor, when he managed to anger pretty much every mentor after he insulted Katniss.

The doors opened again and Lyme and Clove left, leaving me alone with the District 12 victors.

"Are you coming to our floor?" Katniss asked me.

I shook my head. "Not right away. I have a quick meeting-"

An appointment?" She demanded. "I thought you were done?"

I shrugged. "It's just one last appointment. And then I'm done for the rest of my life." She glared at me, noticing the connotations. "I'll be there afterwards, I promise."

Katniss kissed my cheek as the elevator doors opened on the fourth floor and I left them alone.

...

That night, after a long appointment, I got changed and went to the third floor. Beetee led me into his room, where most of the victors were gathered. We had changed locations, because Katniss was too close for safety during our last meeting, which Haymitch hosted.

I was surprised to see the turnout this year was much smaller. There were no representatives from Districts 1 and 2. Beetee and Wiress were both there, and Mags and Britt were also present, but District 5 was missing completely. Districts 9 and 10 were gone as well, and from Districts 7, only Johanna was present. In fact, the only districts that had more than one representative were Districts 3, 4, 6, and 8.

"Where is everyone?" I asked as I took my seat.

"Not invited," Haymitch said. "Most of them aren't nearly trustworthy enough to be here, but Cashmere, Gloss, Lyme, and Peeta are all being watched far too closely right now. We couldn't risk inviting them."

"Which might be a problem," Beetee added, "Considering they won't know about our plan once we enter the arena."

"And Finnick isn't being watched too closely? Finnick and Katniss are Snow's favorite people to watch," Britt said.

Beetee said, "He hasn't done anything to upset Snow in quite some time. Snow has relaxed his watch over him a bit."

"Finnick's been a good boy, so he gets to come to the secret meeting." Haymitch stated.

I frowned. The pet jokes were getting old. Johanna saw my expression and poked my arm roughly, which I knew to be the best comfort she could offer. "This is why no one likes you, Haymitch," I said.

"I'm just stating facts, Odair. And you can't deny them, even if you want to." Haymitch argued.

I glared at him, and so did Johanna, although that might have just been her resting face.

Britt finally spoke up. "Just because they're facts doesn't mean you need to point them out. Everyone knows that Haymitch is a useless drunk, but the only one who ever says it to his face is Katniss."

"So here's the plan," Haymitch began, ignoring her. "The head gamemaker, Plutarch Heavansbee, is on our side." Everyone started talking at once. No one suspected that. Haymitch waited for us to quiet down again. "He's going to help break you all out of the arena, or whoever is left."

"So the games are still on?" Zahra asked. "District 13 is just going to let them happen?"

"There really isn't any other option. That being said, the interviews are coming up. I recommend you come up with some strategy, some reason for why these games should be canceled. I know Peeta already has a plan. If we can stop the games before they happen, that would be ideal."

"So at what point is District 13 going to step in?" Cecelia asked.

"I'll get there. The main goal for us is to protect Katniss. She's the Mockingjay, the spark that started this fire. If she doesn't survive, it's going to make my job way harder. That also means protecting Finnick and Peeta." I could feel them all turn to me, but Haymitch continued. "We all know how attached she is to her fiance and brother. If one of them were to die, it would be hard to keep her alive and kicking. Whether that means being her ally in the arena, or just sticking close by to help if needed. I don't care what you do, just keep that girl alive.

"We aren't sure just yet when President Coin plans on making her move, but I'll stay in contact with you all through what I send you. I will use bread to indicate what day and what time. The origin district of the bread indicates what day we'll pick you up, and the amount of rolls will indicate what hour of the day. Be ready."

Haymitch gestured for Beetee to continue. "It is also very important that either Wiress and I are safe, since we are the only ones who know how to break through the force field that is placed around all arenas. Whoever forms an alliance with us will be responsible for helping me."

I sighed. "That will probably be me. Katniss will probably want to ally with you two over pretty much anyone else."

"Even over me?" Zahra asked, feigning hurt.

"She doesn't want to be with any of her close friends. She doesn't want to have to kill you." I explained.

Johanna grinned. "If it came down to it, I could probably kill the Girl on Fire."

I rolled my eyes. "Katniss said that, too. She doesn't think you will hold back. She thinks you'll kill anyone in the arena if it comes down to it. Even one of us."

Johanna shrugged. "She's not far off. Before I heard about the plan, I was considering it."

I knew that wasn't true, but I didn't say anything. If it came down to it, Johanna would have a hard time killing any of us, despite what she said. Katniss knew that too.

"Does everyone understand the plan?" Haymitch asked, speaking over all of us. No one spoke up. He sighed. "I'll take that as a yes."

Seeder raised her hand. "So Cashmere and Gloss don't know the plan? Or Peeta?"

"That's correct," Beetee said.

"So they could, hypothetically, attack us?"

"Peeta won't attack anyone," I said with a snort. "It's Cashmere and Gloss you'll have to watch out for."

"So wouldn't it be better to tell them?" Britt asked.

"They're being watched too closely," Haymitch said.

"I don't think they'll go after Katniss or me," I told them. "They're too close to us. But the rest of you should be careful."

Haymitch nodded in agreement. "That's our one saving grace. They still see Katniss as their little sister."

I left the room in a much better mood than when I entered. I would still be entering the arena in just a few days, but I had hope. I could make it out with Katniss, as well as all of our friends. I just needed to keep Katniss alive for just a few days.

...

I woke up in the middle of the night. I checked the time. Two in the morning. Katniss was laying on her side, half off of the bed. "Katniss," I murmured. I put my arm around her waist and tried to pull her off the edge before she fell, but she simply rolled over and looked up at me. I hadn't realized she was awake.

There were fresh tears on her face, and she was trembling.

I settled next to her on my side, sharing her pillow. I pulled her close to me, so her ear was to my chest so she could listen to my steady heartbeat. "It's alright, honey," I whispered in the darkness. "I'm right here." She was still trembling, and I could feel fresh tears on her face, getting me wet as well. "Nightmare?" I asked her. She shook her head, taking me by surprise. "What's wrong, then?"

That tore a small sob from her throat, and it broke my heart. "Is it the Quarter Quell?" I asked. Katniss shrugged. "Please speak to me," I practically begged. I couldn't get anything out of her.

"Our family," She whispered, her tears slowing down. "Our children..."

"Our children?" I asked, confused. "We don't have any children."

"But we might have," Katniss said, pulling away to look at me. "One day."

"I thought you didn't want any?"

Katniss curled back into me, but said nothing. I detached myself from her. "Lay on your stomach," I instructed. She rolled over. I rubbed her back while she settled down. She turned her head to face me.

"This is going to be hard to believe, but I need you to trust me, my love," I whispered, continuing to rub her back, and pulling the blanket over our heads so the bugs in her room couldn't hear or see what we were saying. "I can't tell you too much, but I promise: If you want a family with me, if you want to live out our married life and maybe have children one day, even grandchildren, then I'll give you that. We will get out of that arena together, and maybe one day, we can raise our children in a world where they will never have to face the Hunger Games."

"Don't give me false hope, Finnick Odair," She protested, briefly touching my cheek.

"I would never do that, Katniss Odair." I told her honestly. "But you have to trust me."

"But how can you know something like that? Snow would never let two people win again, especially not me."

"Do you trust me?" I asked.

"I trust you," Katniss said. I smiled and kissed her hair. We would be getting out of the arena together. I knew we would. We had to.