The Winner Takes it All

The End?

As the sun rises, Cato helps me off the cornucopia.

"I can't believe it!!" I smile. "You had me worried though." he says softly.

We hug each other and I bury my face in his chest and start sobbing.

"Hey, it's okay. Just one more." He remarks, stepping back and dropping his sword.

I look at him in disbelief and gaze into his eyes. "No, you win this. The Capitol is most likely already preparing for your victor's interview anyway."

I strip off the vest of knives and toss it aside, then picking up a nearby spear and throwing it to Cato.

Cato shakes his head and sadly says, "Marin, you have a home and a family that loves you; I don't." He sits down and beckons for me to sit next to him. "There's nothing waiting for me back home, and I couldn't live with myself if you died in this arena."

I take his hand and watch the hovercraft pick up Peeta and his partner. "And I couldn't live with myself knowing you died."

"So what are we supposed to do?" He ask, rubbing his thumb over my hand. "They're supposed to have a winner."

I remember the berries that killed Finch and the hemlock in my pocket. That's it. "They...don't...have...to."

I pull out the deadly cargo from my pocket and hold it out. Cato eyes me skeptically and picks up the berries, leaving the hemlock in my hand. "We both die."

I nod. " They've murdered 23 of us for the last 72 years and 47 in one, what's two more. Except this way, we're going out on our own terms."

Cato smirks as he closes the distance between us and kisses me one last time. "On the count of 3."

"1." I begin, as we raise our hands.

"2." He continues.

"3." we both conclude, dropping them into our mouths in unison.

Claudius' voice rings out in alarm. "Stop! Stop! Ladies and Gentlemen, I present the victors of the 74th Hunger Games, Cato Hadley and Marin Odair, the tributes of districts 2 and 4."

We both quickly spit out the plants and rinse out our mouths with the water from the lake.

After we were picked up, I start pacing the hospital room in my new silver gown and running my hands through my hair extensions. What am I going to do?!

Sereia enters and gives me an unreadable look. "The Capitol is furious with your little stunt. Snow himself is fuming at the fact that you made him and the Capitol the laughing stocks of Panem."

I smirk and I see a brief smile on Sereia's face before it's replaced by her normally serious demeanor. "Screw the Capitol, all that matters is that Cato is safe."

She looks down and sadly smiles. "I'm so proud of you, if one of us gets to have their happy ending, I'm hoping it's you."

I furrow my brows and shoot her a look of surprise. "What do you mean?"

She laughs and I see tears forming. "True love is always wanting the best for someone, even if that doesn't include you." she wipes her tears. "I've always been in love with Finnick, but I gave him up when I learned that Annie was in love with him and now I'm stuck with what ifs."

Realization crosses my face as I start to remember all of the longing glances Sereia had given Finnick over the years. "Why, didn't you say something to him?"

She smiles softly, "Because, he wasn't meant for me...just like you two, Snow won't let you two ever see each other again; so enjoy today because it's the last day you two will be together."

I'm escorted backstage where Caesar is waiting to introduce us.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you our victors!!" Caesar announces excitedly, as we both enter from opposite sides.

Upon seeing him, I run up to him and he catches me in his arms and lifts me off the ground, and slowly spinning me. I kiss him once he puts me down and we embrace each other while Caesar clears his throat and excitedly smiles while watching us.

"I love Marato as much as the next guy, but we must continue with our show." Caesar announces as he gestures for us to sit. "Congratulations, how are my favorite lovebirds feeling?"

Cato holds my hand while he smirks at Caesar. "Great."

I laugh and tuck a loose strand of hair away. "I've never felt better."

Cato kisses my hand while the crowd goes wild and Caesar tries to settle everyone down.

"All right, all right, settle down. So, Marin, we know from your time with Cato's group that it was love at sight. When did you first realize that you wanted to be with him?"

I smirk and feel Cato's warm hand gripping my hand slightly harder. "I realized it, when we first did our interviews, Cato looked amazing in a suit..." I laugh as I gesture to him. "...and watching Glimmer constantly flirting with him made me realize just how jealous she made me."

"But, Cato, what a ride it must've been for you, to go from a dedicated fighter and dead set on winning to finding love and willing to die so that she could win. I think the real excitement for the audience was watching you fall for her. When did you realize that you were in love with her?"

Cato awkwardly looks around and smiles softly. "The night we stargazed, she made me realize that there's more to life than wanting to win."

"You two are a true match made in heaven. So, Marin, things got pretty rough with you and your leg. How's it doing now?"

I shyly smile. "It's healed now that I got medical attention, and I'll forever be grateful that Finch risked her life to help me."

Caesar smiles comfortingly and laughs. "Well, the number one question on the Capitol's mind is what went on in your mind when you took those plants out. I'm sure all of Panem does, too. Care to tell?"

I look at Cato and lay my head on his shoulder. "I'll be honest...I couldn't bare the thought of leaving him there."

Caesar shifts his gaze to Cato. "Anything you'd like to add?"

Cato lets me go and smirks. "Actually, there is something, I know that we'd have to wait until our living situations are fixed and we get to see each other for the rest of our lives. So Enobaria and Sereia had a promise ring made in the meantime." He drops to one knee and pulls out a box. "This ring symbolizes my intent to marry you someday, and one day I'll replace it with an engagement ring and then a wedding band."

I smile as he puts the ring on my finger and kiss him, pretending as if it was only us again.

Caesar and the crowd are speechless and then Caesar laughs warmly. "Well, then, that's that. Congratulations to both of you. I wish you both the best. We'll be counting down the days until you're both together again, I am your host, Caesar Flickerman, and I'll see you next year at the 3rd Quarter Quell. Goodnight everyone!!"