A/N: I promise I will try and get more chapters out, I have so many ideas for this it's just getting them on (virtual) paper that's the hard thing!

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My time in the Capitol had been cut short by the events of District 2 but that didn’t stop them from cramming a hefty schedule down my throat. Every day was a public show and every night was an endless array of parties with the same people and the same music. It was like I was watching everything pass me but not actually living, I had no say in any of it.

I was under such a watchful eye that I couldn’t even find the time to speak with my allies, another bi-product of the horror in District 2. I don’t know how Cinna and the prep-team makes me look presentable every morning, the sleepless nights and non-stop days can't be doing the bags under my eyes any good.

Today was my last day in the Capitol, tomorrow began the train ride back to District 12. Snow seemed happy to send me off; I have no idea how to feel around him. Part of me thinks that he is thrilled with the idea of a successful Capitol tribute but another part says that he doesn’t trust me one bit.

I sat in the chair facing the mirror, staring into my reflection and seeing yet another girl, every night she looks different and every night I wish she would look even vaguely familiar. The glimmering golden jewellery sparkled in the mirror’s light and her skin glowed with the youthful exuberance of a Capitol girl at her first real party. Her eyes were burdened with the weight of too many.

I jumped at a hand being pressed to my shoulder and looked up to see Cinna standing beside me and just out of the mirror’s vision.

“Come on, this is the last one, I promise.” He smiled warmly.

“This time.” I smiled back but it was weak, despondent.

He gave me a hand to my feet and let me sling my arm through his as we headed out and into the foyer, waiting for the car to pull up at the doors. As I looked outside I saw the usual horde of photographers and the flash of a dozen cameras. On the billboard across the street I already saw my face from the photo shoot only a few days earlier.

They had made my cheeks look more sallow, my eyes ever-brighter and my skin was more flawless than Cinna had ever made it seem. I knew it was me but once again that girl was unrecognisable.

“If you make it through tonight we can go home.” Peeta said as he traded places with Cinna.

“Until next time.” I said.

“The car’s here, you should probably get that blank stare off your face before someone thinks that you don’t want to be here.” He whispered.

I looked up at him, my eyes searching his face. “Now where would anyone get that idea?” He gave me a smile and Effie started making a fuss.

“Chins up, shoulders back and smiles on!” She chirped.

I took a deep breath and let the light come back to my face as the doors opened and we walked slowly out and towards the car, through the parted sea of people just trying to get a glimpse.

I sat between Peeta and Effie, who seemed to be almost in a downtrodden mood.

“Effie, are you alright?” I asked.

“Oh! Oh, yes dear, I’m quite alright, only this week has just flown by hasn’t it? Next thing you know you’ll be back at the end of the line.” She said with a sigh.

“I know Effie, but I have to hold on to the knowledge that I will be back in a few months, and then again a few months after that for… for the next Hunger Games.” I said.

“I know, I know, but it all just seems so unfair doesn’t it?”

“I know it does Effie, I know.” I turned back to the front and stared out through the windscreen knowing that we were most definitely not talking about the same thing.

This time the party was held at the place most Capitol citizens would dream of visiting and everyone from the districts would just die to see how the other half lived. We were in the extensive back garden of President Snow himself.

There were marquis and lights everywhere with a gloriously overzealous banquet with an Avox at every spoon and ladle. With a glass of bubbling while liquor in my hand I took the moment of quiet that I had to examine the flowers around the back and sides of the ten foot high fountain statues – two men locked in a tousle that would never end.

I shivered, Snow’s love of the game was present everywhere I went and it was beginning to haunt me.

There were masses of white roses on these bushes, in full bloom and more radiant than any I had ever seen. If I didn’t know any better I would say that they weren’t even real.

I looked back at the party. The theme was evident, the golden lights in the garden and golden trim on the pearly table covers, everyone but me standing out in their clothes that were white as snow. Of course I was the exception, dressed in my usual gold attire. Maybe it was the President’s way of trying to tell me that I was just a trim on a white cloth, a tiny speckled light hanging from a tree branch; I was there as a decoration and an emphasis but we all know who has the real power.

“Admiring my flora are we Miss Hanspark?” That voice sent a chill up my spine and as I turned around I could make out his face in the pale light from the trees.

“Your garden is more mellifluous than I could ever have imagined, tell me how do you keep them so… pure?” I asked.

His thin lips turned up in a smile. “It’s all about pruning.” He walked slowly over to the large rose bush and gently caressed the white petals with his fingertips. “Roses are such a beautiful flower but if you let them grow too long they become… irrepressible. Once a season you must cut them back in order for them to bloom once more.” He leant in to breathe in the scent of the rose, I could smell them from where I stood and something was not right about them. “Even nature can be controlled Miss Hanspark, all it takes is a little trimming of the weaker flowers to make the plant as a whole even stronger.”

“And of course more manageable.” I added and he gave me a look with a tiny smile.

“Of course.” He said.

I tore my eyes away; unable to look at him for too long, but suddenly I found it hard to stare at his carefully cultured garden either.

“It will be a shame to see you leave the city. I suppose you worry about another incident occurring when you return to District 12.” He said.

“The thought has been playing on my mind. I just feel so much safer here.” I said.

Out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw him grin. “Well unfortunately there is just nothing I can do to keep you here. I will see if I can't organise something for your return to be more of a secure one.”

I turned to give him a weak smile and thankfully we were interrupted by one of Snow’s assistants who whispered into his ear. He nodded to the man and looked back up to give me a parting smile.

“My humblest apologies Miss Hanspark, my title requires yet another duty of me.”

“Not at all, I must graciously that you for allowing us into your private residence.” He tipped his head before turning on his heel to walk away.

I let out a loud sigh and headed back to the crowded marquis, being unable to stand the presence of the flowers any longer. I tipped the glass back and swallowed all that was inside before placing it gently on one of the tables and being immediately offered another glass.

I was about to reject but a man took the two glasses from the tray and offered one to me.

“We can't have the guest of honour without a glass in her hand now, can we?” He said with a hearty chortle.

I let one out myself and grinned up at him from under my eyelashes. “We most certainly cannot.”

I hadn’t seen this man before but somehow I recognised him; he had to be in his late forties with dark greying hair and was at least six feet tall. He wore a white suit like everyone else but with a golden tie, in honour of my farewell.

“I apologise for only just meeting with you now. I am a man with a busy schedule.” He said. “Running one of the largest companies in this city takes hard work.”

That’s where I know him from; he owns almost all of the mines in District 12 and many of the factories in District 2. He is one of the wealthiest men in the Capitol.

“I can only imagine.” I said.

“You look absolutely ravishing as always.” His eyes scraped my body unscrupulously but I kept up my grin. “That dress is positively stunning.”

It helps that it clings to all the right parts you creep, I thought.

I wore a dress very similar to the night of the first party, golden silk that could have been liquid tied around my neck and revealing my back, bare for all to see. The front was cut modestly but plastered to my chest and falling gracefully just above my knees. The shoes gave me an extra few inches and made it impossible to be graceful on this grass.

“I’m Lionel Waltersburg.” He offered me his hand and I took it daintily, allowing him to press his wet eager lips to the back of my hand.

“You hardly need an introduction.” I drawled.

He grinned arrogantly, lapping up my flirtatious banter and taking another lingering look at my dress. “Nor you my dear.” He said. “It is such a shame that we didn’t get to see more of one another during your stay. When you return you must come for a visit.”

“Nothing would delight me more.” I said with a smile.

His fervent gaze intensified and he looked over to the marble stones arranged as a dance floor by the orchestra. “Perhaps I could interest you in a dance?”

I gave him a nod and he pulled me along, having never let go of my hand. As we reached the floor I saw others giving us looks, this man was powerful, perhaps more powerful than any others I have danced with so far and it worries me to think that no one will cut in and steal me from him.

He wrenched me into him, leaving less than no breathing space between us and placing one hand on my lower back, just above the line where the fabric started. He made me more than a little uncomfortable, his courteous words negating with his slippery hands and roaming eyes, and his position of power made me nervous, the same way I felt when I was talking with President Snow.

I couldn’t look into his eyes anymore so I leant in to look over his shoulder as we danced and I hoped to whoever would listen that someone would drag me away. I watched their faces as we turned, many of them looking this way. I saw a few nervous glances and even caught sight of Caledon looking stern and cautious. He gave me a slight nod before I was spun around and pulled back in, making me dizzy.

As we made another turn I saw Peeta chatting with someone and though I only saw her from the back I knew exactly who it was; Katia. I stiffened slightly as he laughed and clinked their glasses together. His eyes caught sight of me and I know he saw the worry on my face before Lionel spun me around again.

I was beginning to think this night would never end when I heard a small cough and Lionel stopped us moving. I lurched forward and turned to see who it was that had the nerve to stop the dance and was taken aback.

“Peeta?” I said.

“Well, if it isn’t last year’s victor.” Lionel said with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“Forgive me for intruding sir but Olivia’s minder wanted a few quick words, we’ve had a slight schedule change and she thought it would be rude for her to interrupt this moment between the two of you.” He said.

“And you do not think it rude for you to do so?” Lionel asked.

“I think that considering recent threats Olivia should be informed of any slight change in case she were to think that something equally as horrible were to happen.” Peeta said, swallowing hard.

Lionel just nodded a little and his lips turned to a sly grin. “I’ve always liked you; you’ve got a bit of fire in you.” He said, making them all think back to Peeta’s opening parade costume.

“Well, I figure I started this journey with a fire and I suppose it would be fitting to continue on that way.” Peeta gave a nervous smile.

“And are you planning on going out that way?” He asked with a raise of his eyebrow.

“Oh I plan on going out with a bang.” Peeta laughed a little and Lionel chuckled to himself.

“Well then don’t let me stop you, and Olivia, we must do this again when you return.” He kissed my hand again and let me walk away with Peeta.

He walked us towards Effie in case Lionel was looking and I could finally breathe. “You know, you don’t have to save me all the time.” I said softly.

“Maybe not, but I’ll give it my best shot.”

The rest of the party was less eventful. I made sure to say goodbye to Caledon and Margery before I left, knowing that I wouldn’t see them again for months and if things went pear-shaped then maybe never again.

I try not to think that way but sometimes you have to be realistic. Caledon warned me about Lionel and I promised him that I would take care of myself, I don’t know if he believed me though, I don’t even think I believed it.

I was looking forward to the hotel bed when we got back but I was informed that we were headed straight for the train rather than leaving in the morning. The morning train would be a decoy. I found it odd how much extra security they had placed on me but I don’t expect that to last further than the Capitol walls.

Out of sight, out of mind; and I would be out of mind until my next visit. My stomach felt queasy at even thinking about it.

Thankfully I could sleep as much as I wished on the train, and I might have even slept the entire first day because when I woke up Peeta greeted me with a ‘good evening’. It wasn’t much longer before we were pulling into the station at 12, in the dead of night the next evening.

I suppose this was a result of leaving twelve hours early.

There was no armed guard to escort us back to the village, no troop of peace keepers, just two of them to lead us there through the dark. Finally being alone with just Peeta and me in my house felt strange after weeks of constant harassment.

“It’s so quiet.” I said softly as I sat back on the couch.

“I think you meant it’s so wonderful.” He said.

“I don’t know that I can ever use that word.” I sighed.

“Are we heading past the fence tomorrow?” He asked.

I shook my head. “It’s too soon; we’re going to have to wait a few days.”

“You know they’re not going to like that.” He said.

“Well, it’s for their benefit as well as ours. It just needs to cool down a little and get back to normal.” I said.

“I don’t know that I can ever use that word.” Peeta said with a smile.

I actually managed to laugh for a moment before reality set back in.

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A/N: Please leave your comments!