FIRE ON FIRE ( cato hadley! )

chapter fifty-six

--☆ FIRE ON FIRE
chapter fifty-six: return to the sea

THE TRAIN SLOWED TO a stop, marking the end of their long journey home. After a few more days spent in the Capitol, the victors were finally free to leave. Lilia Conway let out a breath as she stepped out onto the platform, the familiar scent of saltwater filling her nose. District Four, her home, stood unchanged.

But, as she glanced at Cato Hadley, Maya Holloway, and Annie Cresta, she knew that everything had changed. They had changed. The Capitol was gone. President Snow was gone. The Games were gone.

They were safe now.

After making their way through the village, Cato's eyes scanned the horizon, taking in the view of the vast ocean. Lilia had forgotten that he'd never seen it before. It was easy to take for granted the waves crashing against the shoreline, the way the sun dimmed into the water at sunset.

"I've only ever seen it in pictures," Cato muttered.

"Come on," Lilia said softly, tugging him toward the beach. "It's better up close."

The boy followed, his heavy boots sinking slightly into the sand as they neared the shoreline. The wind carried the sound of distant waves, and Lilia felt her body relax. She watched as Cato stepped into the shallow water, hesitant at first, before moving in further.

"Take your boots off," Lilia instructed, smiling at the boy.

Cato Hadley turned to the girl, a smirk evident on his lips. "Are you sure that's the only thing you want me to take off?"

Laughing, the girl reached down into the water and splashed him, the droplets clinging to his clothes. Cato shook his head, amused, and bent down to scoop up some water.

"Oh, you're going to regret that," he teased, lunging forward and splashing her right back.

Lilia yelped, stumbling backward, but the thrill of the moment made her giggle even harder. "I told you to take your boots off, not start a water fight!"

"Fine, fine," Cato relented, stepping back to yank off his boots. He rolled his pant legs up, glancing over at her. "But if I'm getting wet, so are you."

Lilia lifted an eyebrow playfully. "I'm already in the water!"

Without warning, Cato darted toward her, lifting her off her feet as she squealed in surprise. The next moment, he was spinning her in his arms, moving into the shallow waves. "Guess we're going swimming then!"

"Cato, no!" Lilia shrieked, but she couldn't stop laughing, her fingers gripping his shoulders as he carried her into deeper water. "You don't even know how to swim!"

The boy finally stopped, standing in waist-deep water, both of them drenched now, but the smile on his face made Lilia's heart skip a beat. The hard-edged boy who had once been her enemy in the Hunger Games was now replaced by the boy she had fallen deeply, madly in love with.

"You'll have to teach me, then," Cato replied, brushing wet hair out of his eyes.

"Is that right?" Lilia asked playfully.

"Mhm," he hummed.

For a moment, they just stood there, the water gently moving around them, the ocean stretching endlessly in front of them. The sun was in the midst of setting, casting a golden glow over everything. It was as if the world outside the sea didn't exist.

Cato's voice broke the silence. "I've never felt anything like this." He looked out at the ocean, then back at her. "It's beautiful."

Lilia nodded. "It's always been that way for me. A place where everything just...makes sense."

The boy was quiet for a second before wrapping his arms around her waist, holding her close. "Thank you for showing me this."

Lilia smiled up at him. "You know, we can stay here if you want..."

"You mean, live here?" Cato asked.

The girl nodded.

Without hesitation, Cato grinned and replied, "I'd love that."

They stood there, holding each other close, letting the ocean wash over them, a rare moment of peace in the world that had once demanded their survival. Here, there were no enemies, no Games - just them and the ocean.

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As days turned into weeks, the world felt as though it were starting to heal. Commander Paylor was elected the new President of Panem, and the news spread across the districts like wildfire. For the first time in years, there was hope for a better future. A future without the Games, without tyranny, without fear.

Cato Hadley was adjusting quite well to his new life in District Four. He was no longer the ruthless Career boy from District Two. Lilia saw it in the way he was slowly starting to lower his guard around Annie, and even around Maya.

Annie Cresta had named her son Finn, after his father. The baby was a bright spot of joy in the aftermath of the war, and Lilia found herself smiling more when she was around him. He had Finnick's sea-green eyes.

Every week, the four of them would gather for dinner. It started out as a simple idea, something Maya had suggested to keep them connected. Annie, though quiet and still grieving the death of her husband, had loved it, needing the company as much as they did. So once a week, Lilia, Cato, Maya, Annie, along with baby Finn, would sit around a small wooden table in Annie's home by the shore.

"You know," Maya spoke, leaning back in her chair. "It's nice to sit down like this...to have a meal without worrying about anything."

Lilia nodded. "Yeah. It feels normal."

Cato gave a small shrug. "Normal's a weird word now."

Annie, who had been quietly listening, glanced at Cato. "We have to try and find a new kind of normal, now."

Cato looked down at his plate, his voice softening. "I guess."

Maya smiled, trying to lighten the mood. "Hey, at least the food's good, right? Better than Capitol food, that's for sure."

Lilia laughed softly. "Definitely better."

Cato smirked, finally looking up. "You didn't like their fancy food?"

"Too weird for me," Maya replied, shaking her head. "I'll take this seafood stew any day."

Annie, now sitting with baby Finn cradled in her arms, looked around at the group. "It's more than I ever thought we'd have again. Thank you all for being here."

Maya raised her glass, grinning. "To surviving. And to whatever comes next."

The group joined in the toast, clinking their glasses together. As they shared another meal under the gentle sound of waves outside, Lilia Conway felt her new life starting to begin.