"Go ahead." She bit back, scowling at the man.

The peacekeeper pulled out a gun and pointed it at her, a snarl etched on his face.

"Woah woah." Haymitch rushed in and held his arms out.

"Get out of my way." The man said.

"You don't want to shoot her."

"How about I shoot both of you?" He snarled.

"Look Commander you're new here. Trust me I'm trying to help you. I'm Haymitch. You recognize her? Ivy Aurora? Darling of the Capitol?"

He lowered his weapon growling, "She interfered with a Peacekeeper."

"I never said she was smart. Look you already got a couple of lashes in right?"

"That's not good enough. She's an agitator. They both are."

"Easy." Peeta rushed in, in hopes that the guy would not want to lash them all. "Easy."

Haymitch pushed the boy back to keep him away from the gun.

"You sure Snow wants three dead victors here 'cause that's what we're looking at. It's the eve of the big wedding for them. Snow would not be pleased. Let it go. We will too."

"Alright." He put his gun in the holster. "Okay. But next time. It's the firing squad."

"Excellent idea."

"I don't care who she is." He spits at Haymitch before looking at the people gathered. "Clear the square! You are all under curfew. Anyone out after dark... Will be shot on sight!" He looked at Haymitch. "Get them out of here."

At those words, Katniss and Ivy started untying the man.

•

A group of minors had found a slab of wood to transfer Gale and they rushed him to Ivy's house. Katniss went to get her younger sister Prim while Ivy dealt with the men.

"Get him on the island table." She instructed them.

They transferred the man over.

"Who knew?" Haymitch started sarcastically. "Head peacekeeper. Not entirely peaceful."

"Peeta get the snow," Ivy asked.

Prim rushed in with Katniss and pulled out two boxes of stuff.

"Prim grind some herbs," Ivy told her as she grabbed a bottle of alcohol to disinfect Gale's back.

"What is that? It's hurting him." Katniss asked.

"It's to disinfect." Ivy looked at Prim. "He also needs morphing Prim."

"Got it."

She got a vial and a syringe and filled it with the clear liquid.

"Hold him please," Prim asked as Ivy and Katniss held the man down. The effects worked almost instantly and he stopped tensing up. "That's better."

"Thank you, Prim. You're a lifesaver."

"It's not a problem," Prim told her.

Ivy grabbed some cloth and put it on his back as Peeta came in with a bunch of snow. Together they laid it on his back as gently as they could. They laid another cloth over it and pressed it to his skin.

Prim gave Ivy the crushed herbs Gale needed and let her know what to do with them before leaving to go home with Katniss. The older girl promised to return to see Gale again and Ivy gave her the okay.

•

Ivy sat watch with Gale while he slept to make sure he was okay and didn't develop an infection.

"Hey." Peeta came in with some warm bread. He kissed her head and glanced over Gale. "I can look after him for a while if you want to rest for a little bit?"

"Actually Ivy can I speak to you for a moment?" Effie asked as she entered the house.

"Okay umm... I'll be back in a minute with more snow." She looked at Peeta as he sat down and walked with Effie.

Once they got to the bathroom Effie pulled out a package. "I want you to take this."

"What is it?" She asked taking the package and reading it. "You think I could be..."

"I don't know but I think it's worth trying to make sure." Effie looked at the girl with a worried look. "Just read the instructions and when you're done I'll be here if you need me."

She agreed and went to the bathroom doing exactly as the instructions said.

She set down the test and didn't look at it for a moment and let it do its thing. This was the last thing she needed at the moment and she honestly didn't know what she would do with the results. It was a dangerous time and she wasn't ready for anything.

She looked at the test and she stifled her cries seeing the plus sign. Her heart beat fast and she grabbed it opening the door and showing Effie.

"Oh dear." She said looking at the test and hugging the girl. "I'm so sorry." She rubbed the girl's back.

•

"Ladies and gentlemen. This is the 75th year...of the Hunger Games." Snow announced as he was televised on all TV.

"It was written in the charter of the games, in every 25 years there will be a Quarter Quell. To keep fresh for each new generation the memory of those who died and the uprising against the Capitol. Each Quarter Quell is distinguished by games... of a special significance. Now on this eve of the Hunger Games, we celebrate the third Quarter Quell as a reminder that even the strongest cannot overcome the power of the Capitol."

Ivy sat at the edge of her seat waiting for what sick games Snow had decided on. "I have a bad feeling about this."

"On this third Quarter Quell game, the male and female tributes are to be reaped from the existing pool of victors. In each district."

"No," Ivy said immediately.

Peetas mouth gaped as he couldn't believe his eyes and ears.

Her dad covered his mouth in shock. He sat next to his daughter and yet he could do nothing as his body felt numb. 'Again,' he heard in his head. The third time and he only had 2 kids.

Ivy cried and her face fell to her hands as she sobbed and yelled.

Peeta rushed to her side and held her as she cried, tears flowing down his face as well.

While the two held each other her father paced back and forth muttering to himself. Eventually, he noticed they had fallen asleep and gave them a blanket as he left to go see Haymitch. He wanted to talk and he'd never been an alcoholic but he was thinking Haymitch might've been onto something.

Peeta eventually woke up after a while and settled her on the couch and covered her up before leaving.

•

"There she is. I was wondering when I'd see you." He took a swig. Her father had been here first mainly just to drink and vent and then Peeta had come to beg for help and now inevitably she had shown her face. "And you've come to what? Ask me to die?"

"I'm here to talk." She sniffled.

"What's it say that Peeta was here in the middle of the night begging to save your life?"

"It means we have to save him."

"You could live a hundred lifetimes and never deserve that boy."

"I know that. Okay? He's too sweet for his own good. But he has to survive. You have to do whatever it takes to save him."

"Alright if... If they call his name I'll volunteer in his place."

"Thank you."

"But if they call my name and Peeta volunteers there's nothing I can do." He made sure she knew.

"You help him in the arena like you did for me then."

"Alright." He nodded taking another swig. "I think these games are gonna be different."

"Just do whatever you can. Make sure he stays safe. Promise me."

"Okay." He offered her the drink but she shook her head.

"There's something I gotta tell you."

He nodded and listened to her news and his eyes widened before he took his bottle and started gulping. He slammed his bottle down and wiped his face as he groaned.

"Oh, goody."

•

"Welcome. Welcome. As we celebrate the 75th anniversary and third Quarter Quell of the Hunger Games. As always... Ladies First." Her voice had much regret as she spoke her words. She knew it was useless to even have a bowl as there was only one person that could take the females side. "The female tribute from District 12 Ivy Aurora."

Ivy looked up and walked to her side, she felt numb all over but she had been prepared for this. What she wasn't ready for was hearing which one of the boys would be picked. "Wonderful. And now for the men. The male tribute from District 12..." her breathing stuttered before she read the name. "Haymitch Abernathy."

Ivy closed her eyes and her shoulder slumped. Of course, luck was not on their side and Peeta was gonna be Peeta.

"I volunteer as tribute," Peeta spoke up for the second time a year apart. This time he spoke with conviction and he wasn't as afraid.

Ivy stared at the stage floor, her heart shattered into pieces.

"I can't let you do that," Haymitch tried to stop him.

"You can't stop me," Peeta told him. Haymitch released him and he walked beside Effie.

"Very well the tributes from District 12. Ivy Aurora." She waved in Ivy's direction and then in Peetas. "And Peeta Mellark." She was silent for a moment before saying, "Well all that remains is..."

Ivy's dad raised his hands the familiar three fingers going up as Prim and her mother joined. Then Katniss and Gale. And slowly everyone else joined.

Peeta and Ivy, with tears in their eyes, joined them as well and not a moment later peacekeepers grabbed them and started hauling them inside the justice building.

"Oh no," Effie said. "B-b-but. But."

"Ivy!" Her father shouted in panic as he, Prim, and Katniss pushed forward in protest.

"I didn't say goodbye. Wait-" Ivy protested as she tried to get out of their grips.

"The plan is straight to the train," Thread told them coldly.

"No please I didn't say goodbye. Dad!" She yelled but they closed the doors before he could respond.