Epilogue

The revolution comes quickly. Suddenly. Without warning. Without a spark or a symbol. From a long forgotten District Thirteen, fiery death rains down upon the Capitol. It's the dying act of a dying district. But it's the catalyst Panem needs to overthrow their oppressors. Miners, Merchants, Farmers, Fabric Makers. All band together to take out their overseers. Even the Peacekeepers switch sides. Understanding, finally, that they are slaves to a system that keeps their people oppressed. A sentiment helped along by a certain red-headed retired Head Peacekeeper.

After the final shot rings out, after the revolution ends and a peace treaty is signed, throngs of people pile onto the trains, eager to seek out a new life in a new district.

Peeta and I are among the people crushing the train station, though we do not plan on going with our neighbors. We stand on the platform, hugging Prim and Rory and their daughter goodbye and wishing them well.

There are also people from other districts, clamoring at the borders of Twelve to come in. And to my amazement, my first husband, Darius, is one of them.

The day that my first husband reappears in Twelve is the happiest of my life. When he sweeps onto the platform, bearing tickets and passage for all of us in a new life, I launch myself into his arms and attack him with loving pecks furiously. I kiss him openly, and he kisses me back. The four children we had together clamor around their father, leaving Peeta and Wheat standing alone.

When Darius and I dreamily break the kiss at last, I turn back to my husband. My second husband. My eyes fill with tears. "Please," I beg, knowing he will understand.

And Peeta - good, sweet, gentle, dear Peeta! - does. Even though his heart is breaking, even though there are tears in his eyes too, he sets me free. He smiles sadly. "Go."

I give him a watery, grateful smile. Next second, I run down the length of the platform and fall into his embrace, flinging my arms about his neck as I push my lips against his own in a long, grateful kiss. And as Peeta and I embrace and kiss, my ravished lips curl up into a smile.

"I love you!" I whisper through my choked-up throat. And I mean it.

Peeta releases me from the kiss at last tenderly. Pecking my stepson on the forehead, I run back to my family before I can change my mind, and we board the train, bound for District 4. Bound for freedom.

I quickly adapt to my new life by the sea. Mother joins my family there in Four as well, and I finally meet Finnick Odair, my famous brother-in-law. Darius and I marry in a District 4 court of law, signing papers in the Justice Building and sealing it with a kiss. Just like that, we marry again.

Though from my second marriage, one thing I keep: my wedding ring on a chain around my neck. The ring Peeta gave me when we wed. I also keep the memory of Peace, the one child we had together, close to my heart.

The years pass. And while I feel a twinge of pining, of guilt for the baker - the other husband I left behind - each night when I fall asleep in Darius's arms to the sound of our grandchildren's laughter, I know I made the right decision. I know I wouldn't change a thing.