Entering the Mess hall later that evening I saw a familiar face. Though not as extragivant as I was used to seeing her.

"Effie." I rushed over putting my plate down and hugged her.

"Oh." She breathed returning it.

"What are you doing here?" I asked

"I am a Political refugee." She answered me as the two of us sat down with each other. Weirdly the familiar faces I was most happy to sea I had met because of my time during the games.

"Plutarch rescued you?" I questioned

"Rescued, yes, that's what he calls it. You and I were both in the dark. Now I'm condemned to this life of jumpsuits." She reached over to shake Gale and Kat's hands

"Wonderful to see you again." They smiled in return.

"Can you believe this place. I miss Coffee." She held up he glass of water. then put it back down with a thud.

"And mahogany." I smiled slightly

"Yes, very much so. I never knew anyplace could be so strict. I mean, I thought at least in the higher ranks there'd be some side action. I miss my wigs. Luckily I remembered this was all the rage when I was coming up . You know everything old can be made new again. Like democracy." She cleared her throat.

"Which brings me to this" She hands me a portfolio and I opened it. I saw sketches and fabric samples with my mockingjay pin.

"Cinna." I trailed my hand over his work.

"He's dead isn't he." I looked at my escort. Who had a sad look.

"Yes dear. He made Plutarch promise not to show you this until you'd decided to be the mockingjay on your own. He knew the risks, as we all do. I carefully moved through the sketches.

"He believed in this revolution. He believed in you." I saw his last message to me on the last page. 'I'm still betting on you - Cinna'

"They're beautiful." She put her hand on mine.

"They have it. They have the mockingjay outfit. There's not much of a prep team here in 13 but we will make you the best dressed rebel in history."

"Thank you Effie."

----------------

I scrunched my face up as two women were asked to do my make up. It was heavy and they were inexperienced I daren't have the heart to say anything. However Effie didn't have a problem with that.

"Stop, what are you savages doing?" She took the eyeshadow and blusher brush off them. She took my chin. "This is the face of a revolution. Not some cave painting" She looked at both of them

"Well, scoot." They left "Have you ever even met rouge?"

"Thank you." I called to them

"Don't worry Lily.." She began to wipe the power off my face "We will make this work, for you, for me and for Cinna. Once I fix this mess. She began doing my make up.

"When Plutarch said you looked different he was not kidding. You beautiful hair, with a scalpel tut, tut."

"A little was with a scalpel, the rest Katniss did to make it look even."

"What will Peeta say when he sees you." She sighs running her hands through my short hair.

"Effie, it's only hair."

"Long brown main of hair."

"Yeah, well at the time I was unhinged. Still not sure if I'm still."

------

The lights came on as I stood on the podium. I realised that I was the wrong way round so I turned . Effie came and exhaled a little

"Cinna's final touch." She attached the mockingjay pin to my outfit "Everyone's either going to want to kiss you, kill you or be you." She floated back down the steps

"Perfect, Absolutely perfect." Plutarch came over the speaker.

"Okay let's bring up the setting." there was a chuckle and I looked behind me. There was nothing new from before. There must be something they're seeing that I'm not. I turned back around the rod I was holding bumped slightly.

"Wind." the fans blew gently at me causing parts of my hair to fly back softly. "Okay, Lily, we're gonna start you down on one knee." I nodded and knelt down, I had to get this a lot was riding on me actually paying attention and doing it right.

"Okay."

"And as you rise up, you're gonna hold your flag in the air and deliver you line." I raised back up and held my 'flag' as a practice "Remember, you've just stormed the outskirts of the Capitol arm in arm with your brothers and sisters."

"Okay."

"Whenever your ready." I crouched down and took a deep breath. I stood up holding the flag

"People of Panem, we fight we dare, we..." I trailed of completly blanking on what I was supposed to say.

"Does she know the line?" Plutarch questioned

"I know it" I crouched back down

"Alright, let's do it again."

"She's warming up." Effie added

"Alright with Energy. Go." I did it again

"People of Panem, we fight! We dare to end this hunger for justice!" I shouted trying my best. Ugh this make up was heavy I hated this amount of make up. I should have asked Effie not to cake me in it.

"You've just been in battle" Plutarch snapped "I'm sorry. Excuse my outburst. You've just been in battle. Let's try it again when your ready." I sighed and delivered it again.

"People of Panem, we fight, we dare to end this hunger for justice." There was a awkward silence then a slow clap as Haymitch revealed himself I dropped my arm an the flag as I folded my arms

"And that my friends is how a revolution ends." He rolls his eyes. I just look at him

"Is that how you greet a old friend." He blows his nose

"Maybe I don't recognise you sober"

"I guess it looks as bad as it feels. Nice hair by the way."

"Bite me, Haymitch." We did it another time before Plutarch called it to a end. He presented it to Coin and it looked bad and unnatural. I sunk in my seat. Haymitch cleared his throat.

"Madam President, indulge me for a moment if you would. Let's every body think of one incident where Lily Mellark genuinely moved you. Not where you were jealous of her hairstyle or her dress went up in flames. Or when she made a halfway decent shot with an arrow and not when Peeta made you like her." I looked to the floor hearing his name but them back at the group.

"Now I want you to make you think of a moment when she made you feel real."

"Oh." I looked at Effie "When she volunteered for her best friends sister at the reaping."

"Yes." he rubbed whatever of the board

"Hope that wan't important. Volunteer 4 BF SIS. Good what else."

"When she sang that song for little Rue."Effie put her hand on her heart touched and I felt a little blush.

"Oh yeah, who didn't choke up at that. You know, I like you better, Effie, without all that make up." Effie was flattered which made me smile a little.

"Well I like you sober." Seriously were they flirting?!

"When She told Snow to go screw himself. After the Jabberjays and with the lightning Arrow." Katniss added

"Oh yeah, giving the old middle finger, love it." he wrote that on the board

"When she chose Rue for an ally as well." Beetee added

"Yes, now what do these things have in common?" Haymitch questioned

"No one told her what to do." Gale said

"Unscripted, yes. So maybe we should just leave her alone." Beetee continued

"And wash her face. Married or not, she's still a girl. You made her look 35." Boggs

commented and Effie scoffed

"The opportunities for spontaneity are obviously lacking below ground. So what you're saying is we toss her into combat?" Plutarch asked

"I can't sanction putting a untrained civilian in battle just for effect. This is not the Capitol." Coin refused

"That is exactly what I'm suggesting. Put her in the field." Haymitch tried to convince her.

"No, we can't protect her."

"It has to come from her. That's what people respond to. You want a symbol for the revolution? She cannot be coached into. Trust me I know." Haymitch glanced at me with a small smirk and my eye narrowed art him.

"Maybe there is someplace that is less dangerous?" Plutarch suggested 

"District 8. They reported heavy bombing last week. There are no high profile targets left." Beetee offered.

"We can't guarantee her safety."

"You'll never be able to do that." I spoke up "I haven't been entirely safe since I was little even more so since winning the games. Besides I can protect myself."

"And if your killed?" Coin questioned

"Make sure you get it on camera." I huff out a breath with a small shrug