Hi to whoever's reading this. I hope you enjoy this project of mine. I dedicate this to Holly, my cherished sister, and Courtney a wonderful girl who encouraged me to do this. I do not own Suzanne Collins's book The Hunger Games nor any characters that came from her world. Thank you.

A tall, blonde, dashing man sat at his desk, his pen tapping rhythmically upon the wood. Writers block sucks, he thought. He just didn't know what to write about. Then, as he looked at a picture set on his desk where he could always see it at any point in the room (he had tried every corner just to make sure)...He suddenly knew. It was time to write their story.

5 years ago, on a cold, wintery day

Cato knelt next to Rosie. "It's ok, you'll be out of here in no time! And I'll be right here waiting for you when you do come out!" People rarely saw Cato show genuine concern, or a smile. Rosie Stone, Cato's three year old little sister, was one of those people who was able to extract more than one from Cato's stony exterior.

"But what if I don't?" little Rosie asked with tears in her eyes.

"Don't say that!" Cato rebuked. "That won't happen! I won't allow it. I'll never let you go," he promised.

"Otay," was Rosie's simple, lisped response.

Rosie's father exploded. "What do you mean that her heart donation isn't available? We were told that she would be able to receive hers here, and if she didn't…" Jonathon Stone wasn't usually this high strung, and easily explosive, but for this occasion, it was easy to understand. His three year old girl had heart cancer. And she was going to die if she didn't get a heart donation. Money wasn't the problem, no, the Stone's were filthy rich. But, Rosie needed her heart now. They had flown all the way to sunny California to this hospital, it was the closest one with a heart ready on the spot. However, now that they were here…

"Exactly what I said," the clipped, measured, un-emotional voice of the doctor stated. "Miss Katniss Everdeen, about 30 minutes ago also needed a heart donation, and she requested it before you came. I'm very sorry." The doctor left the room.

The whole Stone family collapsed into the chairs, all except Rosie who was unaware what was happening. Mentally and physically in anguish, they were exhausted… Just then, they heard a girl's voice in the corridor.

"Did I just hear that conversation correctly? That girl is going to die because I came before her? You don't have another donation? What kind of hospital is this?!"

The doctor's cold voice answered, "Miss Everdeen, there is no alternative."

Their voices faded into nothing…The Stone's again resumed their despondent attitude, with Mrs. Stone shedding tears, Cato clenching his hands so hard, his nails created wounds on his hand, Mr. Stone simply staring into space, and…and little Rosie laughing after spinning so much in circles, she had fallen to the floor, and was laughing at the 'moving room'.

Soon, a girl and a doctor were in the room. The girl, whom Cato assumed was the Miss Everdeen, had dark brown hair in a braid over her shoulder, and was wearing a some hospital clothing. She had a look in her eye, a challenging, 'I'm-not-taking-no-for-an-answer' look. Cato glared at her, knowing it was this girl who had taken Rosie's heart. This girl was going to live, and Rosie was going to die.

But, what the doctor said next, surprised them all. The girl had a stony look on her face, but it wasn't menacing, it was what Cato had been accustomed to wearing, when not around Rosie..A mask. "Your girl may live," he intoned. "And I would like Mr. Jonathon Stone to come with me, Miss Katniss Everdeen as well." Cato's face lifted, and started crying, but not tears of sadness this time.

The girl scowled, but it wasn't at that Rosie could live, "Why do I have to follow you? I already told you that I was sure!" she retorted at the doctor.

"Do you want it to be official or not?" Doctor Snow inquired. She scowled again, but followed Doctor Snow and Cato's father to Doctor Snow's office.

Inside the office, Doctor Snow said, "Miss Everdeen has given up her heart for your daughter. You both need to sign this paperwork for it to be official."

Katniss eyed the papers, "What does it mean?"

With a roll of the eyes, "It simply means that you don't hold us responsible when you die."

Katniss flinched, and Mr. Stone spoke up for the first time, "What do you mean by, 'when you die'?"

With a sarcastic smile, Doctor Snow replied, "Your daughter and Miss Everdeen were in the same condition. Either your daughter died, or Miss Everdeen here would die. Chances fell that your daughter would die, but Miss Everdeen stepped in, and gave your daughter the heart. Now would you please sign the papers?"

Mr. Stone stared at Katniss, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Katniss sighed and rolled her eyes, "Yes! Now could we please get on with it? I want to get home, and not die here! Or do you want me to start jumping up and down and smiling my face off, screaming, 'I'M GONNA DIE!' too?"

After Rosie got her surgery, and had been told about what Katniss did, she told Cato, "Why don't you go say hi to that lovely girl, Katniss, while we're waiting for Rosie to come out?"

Cato gaped at her. "Because of her, Rosie almost died!"

"Just go!"

Cato sighed, grumbling about the things mothers made the poor kids do. He sat down next to her. She wasn't wearing hospital clothes anymore. She was wearing a baggy t-shirt, jeans, and a pair of converse. He looked at Katniss with a sarcastic smile, "So you're the one who almost made my sister die," he said coldly.

She smiled grimly, "And your sister is the one that's going to make me die. Funny how things work sometimes, huh?"

Cato gaped at her, "What? Ok, and now we know that you're a freaking liar too, huh? Good to know, nice meeting you, and I am out of here."

She shouted sarcastically after him, "Well nice to meet you too, call me 'Bitch' next time, why don't you, just to shorten the list!"

Cato ignored her.

In the car, Cato told them of his conversation, he laughed, "What was wrong with her? I mean, Rosie make her die? She must be crazy!"

But, to his surprise, his parents simply pursed their lips and drove home in silence. Once Rosie went to bed, they said, "Cato, don't make fun of Katniss."

"Why not?" he scoffed.

"She was telling the truth," his mother said gently.

"What?" Cato stared at her.

"She gave up her heart for Rosie. She let Rosie live, and now, she's going to die."

"Dad?" Cato was in shock, it wasn't true, it wasn't…

"It's true son."

"How much longer does she have? I mean, Rosie had about 12 more years. She was what 18? She would've lived a long time, so it's ok, " Cato tried to ease his conscience.

His mother had tears in her eyes, "This is just an estimate, it could be longer couldn't it?" she pleaded to her husband.

"Mom, what is it?" Cato had wide eyes, and he was impatient.

"10 months, son, she has 10 months," his father stated quietly. His words hung in the air, like icicles, jabbing at their family.

Cato felt as though he'd been hit by a train.