LEIA WAS LYING WITH FINNICK IN HIS BED AS HE KISSED HER SHOULDERS. She had missed just being with him. They were still in danger, and the impending threat of a war was lingering over them. But, that never stopped them before. Finnick began peppering kisses across her face, and he mumbled, "Have I told you how happy I am that you're here?"

"You might've mentioned it," she answered, smiling up at him.

His hand was on her stomach like it was most of the time because he was obsessed with the kicking of his child. He had not seen them since before the Games, and he had spent his entire time at District 13 thinking the kid was dead. "We're going to win this fight, and you and I and the baby will find a house somewhere nice and peaceful."

"And live happily ever after," she finished for him, tangling her fingers in his hair. She pictured it for a second, them in a little cabin out in the countryside, land untouched by war and pollution. They had two kids running around in the field while they stood there in the doorway of their house and smiled.

"And live happily ever after," he chuckled out, and he kissed her on the forehead quickly before climbing out of the bed. He turned back to her and told her, "Hold on. Close your eyes."

She furrowed her eyebrows as he took her legs and turned her on the bed so that she was sitting with her feet hanging off the side. She asked, "What's happening?"

"Just close them," he insisted, and she followed the orders. She heard some shuffling, but then it went quiet. Finally, he said, "Okay, open."

When she slowly opened her eyes, her breath hitched in her throat.

Finnick was kneeling in front of her on one knee, and he had a ring in his hand. It looked like he made it himself, and it was beautiful. It had a ring of metal that came up and intertwined across a stunning ivory pearl. He was staring at her with complete and utter love, and she felt herself begin to tear up already.

"I was pretty sure my first proposal expired," he breathed out, and she remembered the time he asked her to marry him once he was free, when they were both crying in her house. "Leia Calore, you are the love of my life. I never thought that a Capitol person could be as caring, kind, and beautiful as you are. You turned my world upside as soon as I met you, and I've been in love with you since we were fourteen. I instantly fell in love with your eyes, and your smile, and your laugh, and I later fell in love with your strength and kindness. You've always been my biggest supporter, and I wouldn't be here without you."

"Finnick..." she exhaled through her tears. She couldn't stop smiling, and she just wanted to grab him and kiss him right there.

He finally concluded, "So, Leia, will you marry me?"

"Yes!" she shrieked almost immediately, and he stood up and quickly kissed her. She pulled him closer by the back of his neck, and they both grinned into the kiss.

He pulled away just enough to slide the ring on her finger. She stared at it for a long time, making sure that she wasn't dreaming. She kissed before pushing her way past him and toward the door. He called, "Where are you going?"

"I have to go tell Annie and Johanna!" she replied, like it was obvious. "We have a wedding to plan!" She practically danced down the hallway, and she was sure that she looked very silly as a result of her belly. But she didn't care. She was getting married to the love of her life. What else mattered?

Apparently, President Coin had other plans because as soon as she went to talk to the girls, they were called into a huge room for an announcement. So, Leia just told them on the way, and Annie was screaming down the hallway while Johanna pretended not to be excited.

They gathered in the room, and the Calore woman waved at Finnick when she saw him through the crowd. The President cleared her throat in the microphone, causing them all to fall silent and look up at her.

"Good evening. Yesterday, I authorized a covert rescue mission inside the Capitol. I am pleased to announce that the Victors have been liberated! Let this day mark an historic change. With The Mockingjay and the Victors beside us, we have sent a clear message to the Capitol. That we will never again endure injustice. Today, a day on which we reunited family, friends, and loved ones. Let all of Panem come together. Not to battle for the amusement of the Capitol. But to join hands in this fight.

"Let today be the day we promise never to give up, never to give in until we have made a new Panem, where leaders are elected, not imposed upon us. And where the districts are free to share the fruits of their labors and not fight one another for scraps! This new Panem is on the horizon. But we must take it for ourselves. The road there leads through the sharp mountains and deep ravines of District 2. There in the heart of Panem's steepest mountain range lies the Capitol's principal military facility. We can conquer this stronghold because we are one people, one army, one voice. Because today is our new beginning. Today we have freed the Victors. Tomorrow, Panem!"

《✵》

LEIA WAS BEING LED BY A DOCTOR DOWN A VERY PLAIN HALLWAY. Once she learned about Peeta, she requested to see him.. He was being kept in isolation in a room on the other side of the compound. The only person that had been to see him was Prim, and Leia knew that he was going to go crazy in that room with nothing to do and no one to talk to. They were trapped and tortured in the Capitol, but at least they had some company during the pain.

"Don't make any sudden movements. Don't talk too loud. Don't touch him unless he initiates it. Do not mention Katniss Everdeen," the woman instructed her. Apparently, even the mention of Katniss caused him to lash out. They reached the end of the hall where a steel door was waiting for them. "If at any point, you think you're in danger, get the hell out of there."

She tapped her key card on a scanner by the door, and something clicked, allowing them to open it and step inside. There was a dark room with windows into the completely white and brightly-lit room where Peeta sat, strapped to the bed so that he could barely move. The windows were most likely one-sided mirrors, but judging by the way that Peeta was glaring right at them, he was aware of that fact.

Standing in the middle of the room was Haymitch. When they entered, his eyes landed on the blonde immediately. "Thank God, he's been asking for you."

"Haymitch was the one that plotted with her and Finnick and Johanna to get them out of the arena. Or get Katniss out of the arena. Whether she was part of the original plan or not, Finnick would not be alive if it were not for him. "Can I go in?"

"Go ahead," the woman confirmed with a nod, gesturing to the door separating them and the boy on the other side of the wall.

The Calore girl slowly reached for the handle, and it made a loud noise as she turned it, pushing the heavy door open. Peeta sat up quickly, raising his eyes to her as she closed the door behind her. He breathed out, "Leia."

"Hi, Peeta," she returned the greeting with a soft smile, hesitantly stepping further into the room. She was replaying everything that the doctor had said in her mind so as to not scare him or make him mad. There was a chair by the bed, and she gestured to it questioningly. His eyes fell to the chair and then back to her before nodding, letting her know that it was okay.

As she sat down, he explained to her, "I didn't know if you were alive. They wouldn't tell me anything."

"Well, I'm alive, and I'm here," she informed him, even though it was obvious. She knew it didn't hurt to hear, especially since he must be questioning his sanity. Somehow, he looked worse than he did most of the time in the Capitol. He still looked terrified and hurt, but it was like there was something missing in his eyes. "How are you doing?"

"Well, I'm chained to a very uncomfortable bed on my own, and there's literally nothing to do in here but stare at the obviously fake mirror," he responded with a sarcastic tone, and she was surprised when he chuckled a little bit. She took this as a sign that she could smile as well.

"I'm sorry," she sighed. She really wished that he did not have to be in there. He only freaked out when he saw Katniss or when someone mentioned her. Surely there was a way that he could be moved to a hospital room or something instead of that terrifying place. "I can come visit whenever I can if you want."

He grinned, excited by the thought. He was so lonely, and her visiting would give him something to look forward to to pass the time. He nodded, informing her that that was something that he would enjoy. "That would be nice."

"Finnick and I are getting married," she announced after nodding, confirming that she would come visit more when she could. She did not know if anyone had let him know about the wedding, and she was still ecstatic about it.

Another smile spread across his face as he thought about it, but it faltered when he realized that he was most likely not going to be allowed to attend. He shook it off and cheered, "Hey! That's nice. You guys deserve it."

"I was wondering if you wanted to make the cake," the female quizzed. "I know you used to work in a bakery, and the ingredients are limited, but I'm sure we could figure something out."

"I would like that," he answered. She was a bit surprised because of his current state, but he continued to explain, "Anything to get me out of here for a bit. And it's something that reminds me of home."

Leia froze after that, remembering that he was just recently informed of the loss of his family and home back in District 12. The entire District had been destroyed, and very few people made it out. Even fewer were alive. She very hesitantly reached for his arm, expecting him to throw her off or yell, but he let her rub her hand up and down from his elbow to his wrist. "I'm really sorry for your loss, Peeta."

"I'll be okay. How's the baby?" he asked, swiftly changing the subject. He clearly did not want to talk about his parents.

"Amazing. They're due any day now," she informed him, and she grabbed his hand and pulled it over to rest on the bottom of her belly. He chuckled happily when he felt a kick. "I'll bring him or her to meet you, of course."

He nodded. "I'd like that."

"Well, I have to go. Finnick's waiting on me," she told him, and she stood up. He sighed but offered a small smile as she leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. "I'll be back soon, I promise."