Sooo, after too many months I present to you , chapter 21 ! Thank you for continuing to read my story, and for being so patient.
SO sorry:s

Please review!

Love always (:

-YazminDominguez xx

Chapter 21-Day two

Katniss-

Today was it.

The last day.

Get through this, and it'll be all over.

I woke up before Peeta, planted a kiss on his forehead and rose to my feet.

As I was walking out the bathroom I heard a knock on the door; the crew came to get me.

Sighing, I followed them off to get ready.

I stood behind the curtains, in a beautiful red, skin-tight dress, Effie brought to me.

The designs resembled flames, and I knew immediately that Cinna had crafted it.

Peeta stood next to me, in a black and red tuxedo.

I looked up at him; and he smiled, just as Haymitch, Gale and Plutarch made their way off stage, after explaining to the people of Panem the rest of the squad 451 mission.

They explained the bombing of Snow's mansion as well.

I couldn't stand being in the crowd, so Peeta hugged me as I wept in his arms, remembering that awful day.

Seeing Prim, and feel the burning sensation along my back, that the bombs brought, all over again, was horrible.

It was enough that I saw them in my dreams.

I was a complete mess.

Watching as they walked, I bit my lip to stop it from trembling, when suddenly Gale stopped in front of me.

He stared down at me, studied my face, probably noticed my puffy eyes, and then to my surprise, he hugged me.

At first, I didn't react but after his warmth started to reach my senses, I recognized him, his touch, and his voice, but his body and scent were unfamiliar.

He was buffer, and smelled of spice, not smoke and dirt, pleasant, but unfamiliar.

This was Gale, but not the Gale I once knew.

It was depressing, regarding my best friend as just someone that I used to know.

I unhooked my arms from his neck, and broke our hug.

But not before us both, at the same time, whispered into each other's ear "I miss you."

I glanced up at his dark eyes, before I heard Peeta's voice tell me we were needed on stage.

I put aside my thoughts of Gale, and prepared for what I was going to do.

I gripped the microphone, and spoke "Good morning Panem!"

"Well, I hope that cleared everything up. Or at least answered some questions. I still don't even understand somethings. On that day, everything finally cracked. It was the ultimate trigger. The revolution ended, though not as anticipated. Though the day justice was served, and the pronouncement of ending the Hunger Games was made later on. The day the presidential lawn and rose up in flame, and City Circle was rained upon with bombs, was the day everything would change. And we are, and will make it, change for the better."

I paused and looked towards Peeta, who was raising the microphone up to his mouth.

"Yes, it was, you can say it was the final straw. The final push, unfair yes, it murdered many, many innocent people, but, I regret saying, it was miserably required. It all ended and began anew the day President Paylor rose to power. But, my good people of Panem, today we will be addressing the lives lost in this war. Every brave soul who fought for what they believed was right, should be commemorated. Remembered. Forever."

I took a deep breath and continued.

"So now, reunified here, we ask you for silence. Over the course of the last numerous months the whole nation was asked to send in names of the fallen, as you all know."

I stared at the crowd, seeing the combination of clothes, bright capital shades, and plain, dull district hues.

"I had volunteered to read them out loud, all of them. But there were too many, too many, so that would be impossible to read in one evening. So this was put together, by the best in all of Panem, in memory and honor for every person, rebel or peacemaker that passed on."

I made a long sweeping gesture toward the screen behind me, and the monitors all around The Avenue of the Tributes, where the crowd sat, and where once upon a time, chariots raced by, holding their terrified tributes.

The harmonies of violins and the lovely keys of a piano began to play, the music echoing off the walls and then the pictures and names flashed on the screen.

Forty names, twenty on each column, one under another, were shown, and if pictures were submitted they were displayed correspondingly.

After forty names, another forty appeared, and so on.

The people sitting the crowd remained silent for the whole forty minutes that the video took to display its pictures and names.

It was excruciating.

Tears fell, sobs escaped mouths from my left and my right.

The video was beautifully done by Cressida's team, perfect music, and the slides didn't last too long, but remained long enough so that you were able to read every name.

It was organized by district and alphabetical order.

When my district's number flashed on the screen, my stomach migrated to my throat.

I couldn't believe how many names I recognized.

Tear after tear fell, and I didn't even bother to wipe them anymore.

Peeta sought out my arms, and therefore my embrace, when the names of the members in his family were displayed.

I flinched when I saw Prim's name.

Beautifully etched in a cursive print, and a picture of her golden hair, and pretty face right beside her name. Primrose Everdeen. I wrapped my arms around Peeta, until it was over.

So many names.

When not a single sob was heard, the ceremony started back up again.

"Though we will never be able to fully demonstrate how much we lament them, and love them, and miss them, it was a small way of mentioning each individual."

I choked with a sob, but then continued speaking.

"Now we will present to you the new seal and flag of Panem, designed by the President herself, with the help of a few more people."

A couple people I didn't know walked out, carrying the flag while we made our way off stage, though I was able to catch a glimpse of it.

It was a magnificent deep green color.

In the center, it had a mockingjay, and in its claws it grasped, thirteen golden arrows in one, and a vine of deep bluish-purple berries in the other.

Nightlock.

I smiled at the thought of how one piece of cloth could represent so much.

Around the mockingjay, was a golden arc.

In the semicircle there were some letters in a strange language I didn't recognize, so I told myself I would ask Beetee later.

It was a gorgeous flag, which surprisingly wasn't much different from the older one.

"In commemoration to these events, and the people who fought, here and in every district, there will be a central park constructed and opened. In each park, a statue will stand proud, a mockingjay, and on its base, will be engraved the names of every person from the corresponding district. I want to honor every life that was lost. So here, in City Circle there will be thirteen mockingjay statues, and anyone is welcome to come and see it when this night comes to an end." I heard the President stop, take a breath and then continue.

"I want to thank every being that came forth to participate in this two day event, and will be more than flattered if you all join me this evening to a grand feast. To celebrate not the death of the dead, but their lives, and what they meant. And not to mention the rebirth of our country! So please feel free to do so. Now to conclude with her brave words, please welcome the Mockingjay herself! Katniss Everdeen!"

That's my cue.

I stepped out from behind the stage, where I was listening to President Paylor, into the light. I was dressed in my Mockingjay gear, bow strapped to my back.

I took my place next to the President, and she spoke, her warm brown eyes staring directly into mine.

"Thanks to you Katniss, to your sacrifice, and sheer will power to keep going, we have obtained justice, peace and our rights have been restored. We would like to give you a gift, a small token of thanks."

Before I knew it, someone was shoving something in front of me, I looked down and saw it was a girl, a young lady, with a braid down the side of her delicate face, and her hands outstretched in front of me.

She held out a box, which I took gratefully.

I muttered a "Thanks" to her, as she scurried off.

Not wanting to open it right then, I set down the box on the podium, as I grabbed the microphone which Paylor handed to me.

"Thank you, to everyone. But don't thank me, just rejoice in the fact that we are all safe now. I wanted to say a few words to my sister, though she is not here with us today. After all, this to me has all started with her, and now the wheel has come full circle and will end, with her. Prim," I paused and swallowed a sob.

"You meant-mean- so much to me, your voice and memory is what kept me alive, in the arena, in district thirteen and even now. Knowing you suffered so much, makes my heart ache, and my eyes pour, but you will always be my love, full of life and courage. I just want to dedicate everything to her, because without her, I wouldn't be standing here in front of all of you, because I wouldn't have had a reason to volunteer."

I felt tears burn my cheeks, but it felt great being able to speak to my country about her.

"I will always love you." I said softly, wiping a tear.

"And please, people of Panem, I want you to celebrate, cry no more, for this is it! We've made it so far, celebrate! Enjoy! Our loved ones are alive in our hearts and memories, so don't forget, but do forgive. Thank you." I finished my speech by holding up my four fingers to the sky in a salute they all knew too well.

Back in my room, I quickly stripped off my mockingjay uniform, and pulled on an elegant, yet comfortable dress; deep green, like the new flag.

As I was brushing my hair, a pair of arms grew around me, making me jump in surprise.

So, I immediately turned around to embrace him.

"I love you." I said to Peeta's lips, before I planted a long sweet kiss on them.

"Me too. We've made it. It's over" he told me.

I nodded, and wrapped my arms around his neck.

He held me, and I thought 'oh how I needed this hug'.

I felt exhausted; the day was emotionally draining, and having him there, his arms holding me, felt too calming.

Arm in arm, we strolled through the space where the feast was taking place; The Avenue of the Tributes .

People came up to us and spoke, making small talk, or they would say just how much they enjoyed the ceremony.

I was alone; Peeta was talking to some woman who was praising him for risking his life to tell us about the bombing, when a woman came up to me.

She was stunning, caramel skin and green eyes flecked with gold that felt so familiar.

She introduced herself as Solange.

Solange... the name tickled my memory.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Katniss." I said, holding my hand out.

She nodded, and shook it.

"I know who you are. I just wanted to thank you for everything, and give you this."

She produced from her clutch a white envelope.

"You are welcome any time." She said with a smile, before kissing my cheek and then turning around to stride off.

I was left confused, but I didn't go after her.

In the envelope rested a key and a note with an address written neatly on it.

Confused, excited and regretting not going after the woman with the gold flecked eyes, I stuffed the envelope into my purse and set out to find Peeta.

When I saw him, I staggered over, loathing the heels I was in.

I grabbed his hand, excused him from the man he was conversing with, and pulled him to the side of the clearing.

"What the hell Katniss?" He asked, clearly annoyed. "I was sort of speaking to someone."

"Sorry," I muttered "But I want to show you something."

I pulled out the note and explained to him about the woman.

"We'll go tomorrow, okay?" I was going to protest when suddenly, the speakers boomed with music.

Peeta bowed slightly, and said "May I have this dance?"

I sighed and accepted, delighted.

Out on the dance floor, I felt unreal.

His arms around me, my head on his chest, and my fingers laced together behind his neck, I couldn't believe where I was.

I was in Peeta's arms.

I had fallen in love with him.

I was in the capital; no more Hunger Games, no more slaughter.

Smiling at the thought but then, I grimaced.

No more Prim or Gale as my best friend.

No more mother in my same district.

No more hunting to survive.

My district was still in pieces, it was gluing its self-back together, but it will never be the same.

No more Prim.

Was that really the price to pay?

I looked up at Peeta's blue eyes.

He smiled down at me, kissed my forehead, then my cheek and finally my lips, and letting all my negative thoughts go, I let myself drown in the taste of his lips.