Effie scoffed in distaste as she stepped out of the train to be greeted by a dozen peacekeepers. "Well, I never. This is not very festive."

Ivy and Peeta got a glimpse around before being ushered into a vehicle to drive through the heavily policed fields.

"The mayor will make some introductory remarks. And then you just have to say a few words. It's customary, of course, to give a brief eulogy to the district's fallen tributes." Effie looked between the two victors. "For 11, that's Thresh and Rue.
Here are the speeches." She handed it to them and let them look it over.

"Want me to do the talking?" Peeta asked Ivy. She looked at him, unsure of what she should do. They'd have the face the tributes
pictures and their families and she wasn't so sure she wanted to speak. But she knew she wanted to thank them for their kindness even though it wasn't in Effie's cards.

"I can say a few words." She gave him a small smile and while he was unsure he nodded and gripped her thigh softly.

They were let out in the back of the justice building and walked through. Effie made sure they looked alright and smiled at them.

They could hear the anthem beginning outside in the square as the mayor waved at the crowd.

Peeta took her left hand, and the mayor was introducing them as the massive doors opened with a groan.

"Big smiles!" Effie said and gave them a nudge. "Stand up straight. You're on camera."

The people of District 11 clapped and Ivy immediately noticed that the people were not treated well. Most seemed closed off and not one person was smiling. Almost every person she looked at had darker skin and they were surrounded on all sides by peacekeepers.

Over the crowd of people stood two platforms for the tribute's families. A giant screen behind them of their picture. On Thresh's side, there was only an old woman with a hunched back and a tall girl beside her, Ivy could only guess that was his sister.

But on Rue's side, Ivy was not prepared.

Her mom stood with sorrow encompassing her whole body as she stood behind Rue's five younger siblings, who resembled her closely.

She frowned and felt Peeta squeeze her hand in reassurance.

"Thank you," Peeta spoke into the mic. "We're honored to be here with you today.
And to be with the families of your fallen Tributes." He looked over the paragraph of words before putting them down. "Though they fought and lived with honor and dignity until the end, both Thresh and Rue were so young. But our lives aren't just measured in years. They're measured in the lives of people we touch around us. For myself, for Ivy. We know that without Rue and without Thresh, we wouldn't be standing here today."

Peeta looked back at Ivy for a moment before looking back out into the crowd. "So in recognition of that, knowing that it in no way can make up for your loss, we'd like to donate one month of our winnings to the families of the Tributes, every year, for the rest of our lives."

Ivy gasped and looked at Peeta in shock trying not to look like she wasn't expecting that.

The crowd couldn't help but respond with gasps and murmurs as well. There was no precedent for what Peeta had done. Ivy wasn't even sure if they were allowed to do what he just said.

Peeta didn't know, either, so he didn't ask in case it wasn't. That way once he said it out loud they'd have to let him.

As for the families, they just stared at them in shock. Their lives were changed forever when Thresh and Rue were lost, but this gift would help change their life in a different way.

"Thank you." Peeta looked back at her and she gave him a smile for his kind heart. She kissed his cheek as she walked up to the mic. He moved back and let her say what she needed to say.

"I just wanted to say that I didn't know Thresh." She looked at his side of the family. "I only spoke to him once. He could have killed me, but instead he showed me mercy. That's a debt I'll never be able to repay. He was an honorable man and you should be proud of him." She teared up slightly before looking at Rue's side.

"But I feel as if I did know Rue. She wasn't just my ally, she was my friend. I see her in the flowers that grow in the meadow by my house. I hear her in a Mockingjay song. Sometimes I see her in my dreams. She was too young, too gentle." She sniffled and Peeta rubbed her back. "She saved me and I couldn't save her. And I'll forever hold that guilt." She paused. "But I want to thank you for raising wonderful children and for helping me survive in the arena with fresh bread."

She stepped back and Peeta grabbed her hand as the whole crowd took a long pause.

Then somewhere in the middle of the crowd, a man whistled a familiar 4 note tune. It was the song Rue showed her. For the end of the workday in 11 and the sound of safety in the arena.

The crowd joined in after and Ivy saw it was an old man who had his three fingers up as he ended the tune.

Then all of a sudden the people of 11 copied the man and held their hands out to Ivy and Peeta.

If she hadn't spoken to President Snow, this gesture might move her to tears. But with his recent orders to calm the districts fresh in her mind, she worried this would not end well. She could only assume how this would look to Snow.

She hadn't meant to. She just wanted to thank them and express her guilt but that only seemed to cause some dissent in 11. In hindsight, she realized then that it was not a good idea to be so personal with a district that seemed to band together and care for each other.

Before she could even blink, peacekeepers lengthened their batons and pushed through the crowd as they gasped. Two of them grabbed his arms and dragged him through the crowd roughly.

"No! No! Wait! Leave him alone!" The peacekeepers on the stage grabbed Ivy and Peeta and dragged them back into the justice building. "Leave him alone!
No! Let me go! Please! leave him alone!"

They slammed the doors behind them and Ivy cried as Haymitch grabbed onto her to stop her flailing.

The gunshot rang loud as they executed the man and Ivy shook her head frantically.

"Come here! Stop it!" Haymitch tried to calm her down but it wasn't working. "Peeta calm her down."

Peeta rushed to her and held her as she crumpled to the ground. "Ivy, please. You have to calm down."

"What did I do?" She cried. "Why?"

"It's okay. Ivy please just calm down."

Haymitch groaned and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

"In all my years, I've never seen..." she paused to take a breath. It was clear she wanted to strangle the two.

Haymitch grabbed the two and pushed them toward the stairs so they could go somewhere private.

"You two had a very simple task." Haymitch scolded them.

"I never meant for anyone to get killed. Snow has to know that."

"And why did he visit you?" Haymitch asked.

"He's worried about rebellion in the districts. He thinks that they don't believe our love story."

"So he wants you to make them believe it?"

"He wanted us to calm things down."

"Ivy, what were you thinking?" Haymitch asked.

"I was thinking about Rue." She wiped her tears away. "And those poor families." She held herself as she looked at Haymitch. "Haymitch, please... what are we gonna do?"

"Well from now on, your job is to be a distraction. So people forget what the real problems are. Your private life is now a part of there's. That's what Snow wants. That's what he needs."

"So what? What do we do?" Peeta asked.

"You're gonna smile. You're gonna read the cards that Effie gives you. And you're gonna live happily ever after. Does that sound okay?" He asked and they nodded.

Haymitch opened his arms beckoning her over. "Come here." She gave him a hug and for once he didn't mind it. "You're gonna be okay. I promise."

•

"Ivy and I want to share with you our victory. And our gratitude to The Capitol for bringing us together. It was the bond of love, forged in the crucible of The Games
that was our greatest prize. For it is love and true love that allows us all to bear our hardships. That mends the heart and banishes loneliness and gives meaning to our lives."

He smiled at the crowd and Ivy kissed him before turning to the crowd and waving at them.

•

Ivy and Peeta were on stage again. The 3rd or 4th district she couldn't really remember. Effie gave her the cards to start first and all she could hope was that this district would be fine. But it was all just hope.

"We wanted to share with you the sorrows of your losses. The Tributes of this..." she paused as a group of three held up three fingers and peacekeepers immediately jumped into action. Ivy looked back at Haymitch who nodded his head and she clinched her eyes shut for a moment before continuing to read the card. "The Tributes of this district were brave and noble warriors. They brought honor to their families and pride to their people. We are all of us united, both victors and vanquished, in serving a common purpose."

•

They read their speech to the people of 4 and this time there had been no people dragged off. It was a weight off her chest but the lives of these people still stuck to her mind.

She and Peeta kissed again as they waved and smiled at the people.

The district cheered and applauded and threw flowers at their feet. It made Ivy a little sick to the stomach but she continued with the facade.

Ivy looked at Peeta and let out a breath to calm her nerves. As they started to walk away a little girl walked up to her with a bright smile and flowers.

"Hello." Ivy took the flowers from the girl and gave the girl a smile back.

"One day I want to be in the games like you guys. And be as brave."

Ivy's smile wavered for a moment not in the least pleased by the girl's words but in the girl's mind she was in awe.

"Maybe one day."

•

Ivy jolted up, her breaths uneven as she woke up from a dream of Rue in her last moments. She tucked her head between her knees and pushed her hair back to help her calm down.

Peeta got up hearing her and rubbed her back. "Deep breaths Ivy. It's okay."

"It was just a dream. I'm sorry." Ivy whispered, not looking up from her knees.

"It's okay. I told you if you have a bad one wake me up. Was it Rue?" Peeta asked now acquainted with what most of her bad dreams contained.

"Yeah." That was all she said for a long moment. "I keep seeing the spear embedding. The look in her eyes when she took her last breaths. It's not so much a nightmare as it is the memory haunting me. The guilt keeps eating at me and I don't know what to do." The tears started falling but she kept aggressively rubbing them away.

"I know Iv. Over time it will fade but she was close to you and it was traumatic. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Ivy finally looked up from her knees, the silent tears streaming down her face. "Can you hold me?"

"Yeah." He spoke softly as he situated himself with her and spooned her. "Always." He kissed the top of her head and she snuggled up and closed her eyes.

•

Ivy glanced at the crowd noting the unamused faces. "We are all of us united,
both victors and vanquished, in serving a common purpose. The power and glory of The Capitol."

"Put down the cards!" A man yelled from the crowd.

"Tell us what you really think!" A girl shouted as the crowd pushed against the peacekeepers.

"Panem today." Peeta started. "Panem tomorrow. Panem forever."

Effie had instructed them to hold up their hands and so they did. However, it looked wrong as the crowd angrily tried to stomp forward and refused to believe what the victors were saying.

Peacekeepers walked up to them and escorted them away as the crowd was out of control.

Ivy knew things were getting dangerous and Snow would be watching them fail.

•

"Snow is watching us. If he wants you to pacify the districts, I promise you, he's not happy." He leaned forward and looked at them with a serious face. "Instead of being in love, you two sound like you're reciting from a drilling manual."

"You try reading that stuff that Effie writes us." Ivy deadpanned. "Not much room for lovey-dovey stuff."

"Tell that to President Snow when you see him two days from now," Haymitch told her.

"Well, I'm open to suggestions." She told him, frustrated.

"We could get married," Peeta said.

Ivy frowned at him, snapping her head in his direction as soon as he said it. "That's not funny nor is it helping."

"I'm serious," Peeta told her looking her in the eyes.

"Peeta..." she trailed off.

"I love you, Ivy." He grabbed her hands. "It's gonna happen eventually right? We are a couple and the Capitol expects us to be together forever. So why not now?" He asked.

Haymitch chuckled at Peetas suggestion. "It does make a statement. I'll give you that."

Ivy looked between the two guys before settling on Peeta. "Okay..."

Peeta smiled at her. "Okay?"

"Yeah." She smiled at him. "Let's get married."