A/N: Sorry for the delay, good readers. Believe it or not, I'd actually had a nose job. I look significantly less disgusting. This chapter begins our foray into AU, so I apologize. And now, we return to...

Serious Movie Observation: "Age differences at this point in child development matter: Katniss should easily dominate this other girl"- CinemaSins

Now in the book, it's perfectly believable that a malnourished, 16 year old, underdeveloped Katniss would get her ass whooped by the well trained, ambiguously 18 year old Clove. Hell, she could be 15 and I'd still buy it. But in the movie, a 22 year old rolling over for a 14 year old just looks fucking ridiculous.

Another Serious Movie Observation/Question: "Wanted to simply kill her a minute ago, now wants to monologue" -CinemaSins

Why the fuck would Clove sit there and think about maybe maiming Katniss when she was well aware that Thresh could show up at any time? Was she stalling? Damn, Suzanne Collins, you ambiguously ship Cloveniss pretty hard.

Cato's snoring was deafening. Clove didn't understand why Thresh or that girl from Five hadn't already found them and brutally maimed and killed them while they slept. Not that Clove was doing any sleeping, anyway. As soon as that announcement from the Gamemakers came she'd hightailed it back to him, pretending to be positively ecstatic that they could go home together and be the adorable power couple that was supposed to win the games. The dirtbag bought it, no questions asked. And here they were, awkwardly curled together, his massive frame choking her petite one in his death-trap of an embrace. The Capitol was probably very pleased to know that Cato was a snuggler. Not for long. Clove squirmed her way out of his iron grip and turned in the direction she believed where Katniss and Peeta were.

There had been another announcement that day from the Gamemakers. This one promised a feast, providing whatever it was the tributes so desperately needed. Clove was willing to bet her ass Peeta's medicine was there. It was a great way to lure everyone together for some friendly bloodshed. Which was why Clove had spent that afternoon forming a plan. Now all she needed was to let Katniss in on it. She set off at a brisk pace, aiming to be there and back before Cato came out of his slumber. Luckily for her, he was no different from a bear hibernating in the winter when he slept. Suddenly, she felt that familiar tickle in her throat. The one that felt like her stomach was bubbling over, as if it were out of room. And then she was bent over, expelling her stomach contents onto the forest floor. This was happening with increasing frequency, she'd already done this twice today. Clove wondered if she was infected with some Capitol-made sickness that was slowly killing her, rendering her unable to function until she either painfully withered away, or was found and slaughtered.

There was a shrill beeping, signifying that a parachute had touched down nearby. Maybe she did have some illness, and this was the cure. Clove eagerly unscrewed the capsule, but found no medicine inside. She overturned the canister, and out tumbled what appeared to be a piece of plastic, accompanied by a folded slip of paper. Recognizing what had been sent, she carefully unfolded the note, and read Enobaria's bold script. The message instantly eased Clove's fears, but at the same time, sparked a thousand new ones. What would happen if Enobaria's plan worked? What would happen if this meant the other victor wasn't Katniss? She nearly vomited again just thinking about it. Hurriedly following Enobaria's instructions, she waved the plastic in the air, as if the cameras could see it, before stuffing it in her pocket, and shakily continued to where she remembered Katniss telling her she was going.

A half hour later, Clove was standing outside of a cave, listening to the hushed whispers coming from inside. Footsteps echoed off the walls, and Katniss appeared at the mouth of the cave, her lips pressed into a hard line. Her gray eyes met Clove's, and a smile spread across her face as the two embraced, lips meeting in a slow, sensuous kiss. The somber expression returned to Katniss's features all too soon, and she took in a breath.

"He's not gonna make it if I don't go."

Clove bit her lip. They both knew that not going would have deadly consequences. As much as Peeta was an obstacle, she owed him.

"We'll go. It'll be fine, hun. I've figured it out."

"But Cato, he'll-"

"Be dead, if my plan works out." Clove finished, a sly grin on her lips. "He thinks I'm madly in love with him, and that I intend to share my victor status with him. Obviously, that's not happening, so I've got him to agree to let me go to the feast on my own, with him in shouting range. That's where you come in. I'll pretend to have you trapped. Your job is to scream for Peeta, and Cato wants the kill, so he'll take the bait. He won't feel the knives in him until it's too late."

Katniss returned the cocky smile. "Great thinking, babe." She leaned in for a quick kiss on Clove's freckled cheek. Clove's face paled at Katniss's words, and she had just enough time to turn around before the bile came spewing from her mouth. Katniss was immediately crouched at her side, rubbing soothing patterns into her back and whispering reassurances into her ear. When Clove finished retching, she crumpled into Katniss's lap, and the older girl ran her fingers across her love's scalp. Her brow was furrowed in a worried manner. "Does this happen a lot?" She kissed her forehead, and was delighted that the skin beneath her lips was cool. "You don't have a fever, so that's good."

"I'm not sick, Katniss. I'm just nervous. That's all there is to it." Clove gave a look imploring Katniss not to question further, and thankfully, she didn't. "I've gotta go. Cato will be awake soon. I love you." She reached up to let her lips brush Katniss's temple, and scurried off to put her plan to motion.

Cato was easy enough to fool. A few kisses from Clove and she had him like a dog on a leash. It took all she had to keep her food in her stomach when his rough lips met hers, and his tongue invaded her mouth, which not even Katniss had done. Approaching the Cornucopia from the right, she saw the packs lined up. A nice, big pack intended for her and Cato. A measly little pouch for Katniss and Peeta, probably containing the medicine. Two midsize packs sat in between. Before she could even think about what might be in them, Five's pack was already gone, as the girl had popped out of the Cornucopia like a weasel and was heading away at a dead run. Scanning the nearby foliage, she spotted Katniss's dark braid waggling as she got the same idea, darting headlong for the little bag. Let the show begin. Clove came at her, tossing a knife, which knicked her on the forehead. Embarrassment flooded through her at the realization that not only had she injured Katniss, she'd actually managed to miss! Rationalizing that it was more realistic that way, she shoved the thought out and threw another knife, this time blatantly far enough away where no damage would be done. Yards turned to inches turned to atoms of air before they collided in a tangle of limbs rolling around in the grass, giving passerby the appearance they were struggling for dominance. Eventually, Katniss relented, and Clove rested her hips just under the bigger girl's navel. Heat rose up her spinal column, tingling all the way to her fingers and toes, and Clove's thoughts at this moment were suddenly very dirty. Realizing where she was, Clove hunched over Katniss, and began to whisper arrogance just audibly enough where they wouldn't be suspect if they were seen. Pulling out her favorite carving knife, she reverently traced Katniss's lips, and imagined her own on them. Her screams for Peeta were certainly loud enough, and Clove wondered why the hell Cato hadn't shown up yet. It wasn't like him to pass up a kill, and Clove was practically serving it on a silver platter.

Suddenly feeling herself flying, Clove realized that she had utterly fucked up. Katniss's screaming and her made up taunting about Rue had managed to attract the one person in the arena that actually was capable of killing her. Thresh.

"You kill her!? You kill Rue!? I saw your knife on her!"

Well shit, that was a horrible idea in hindsight. "N-no! I didn't!" Her only thought now was to make the plan work. "CATO! CATO! CATO!" Hopefully he'd come to help. Maybe Katniss would get him. Or Thresh, when he was done with her. She was pinned to the Cornucopia, the metal cold against her face. Her eyes were screwed shut, not daring to look at Katniss's face one more time. There was a whistle, a slicing sound, and then Clove dropped to the ground with a thud. Peeking out of one eye, she saw the arrow sticking out of his back, and Katniss running to her aid as the cannon boomed. Katniss's arms were tight around her, warm, safe. Hot tears trickled into her hair, and frantic kisses rained on her head. The plan had got somebody, just not-

"CLOVE!"

Shit. They'd blown their chance. Time to cut their losses and get the fuck out. Katniss grabbed the tiny pouch, while Clove hoisted her own large pack on her back and tore away with Thresh's in her grasp. Her other hand managed to find Katniss's as they sped to safety. Together. If there was any chance that these were their final hours, they were sure as hell not going to waste them. By the time they reached the cave, they were both wheezing. Katniss wasted no time in delivering the medicine to Peeta, while Clove opened up the rest of the loot. Thresh's pack contained a nice selection of food, no doubt for wherever he had been staking out. Her and Cato's pack on the other hand, contained a large metallic...thing. Thinking it could be body armor, she tried it on, and found that it fit nicely around her stomach. Katniss reappeared, and beckoned her inside, where Peeta lie asleep.

"He'll live. I think."

Clove reached up to finger the scratch on Katniss's forehead. "I'm really sorry about-"

"No worries. Everybody makes mistakes." Katniss smiled, batting Clove's hand away and taking it in her own. She pulled them both down near Peeta, and Clove molded herself against Katniss, aligning perfectly, like the order of the stars in the night sky. Katniss enfolded the smaller girl in her arms, pulled her in to the hollow of her throat, and let her lips dance over her ear. "You're safe. We're safe. Relax." Clove burrowed further into the sweet smelling skin, and, feeling utterly surrounded by Katniss, finally slept.