Chapter 1: Going back to roots

"You've got that power over me.."~~~~

    After that night of her father finding out she had been hiding the bills for the snows and helping them out as well as in close kahoots with Coriolanus. He went ballistic. Which lead to here.

  Ms.Figgs was dropping Emme off at the train station for her to escape and go visit her Grandmother in District 12. Em gave her a hug thanking her for helping her at home and helping her escape her family.

  Did anybody else know that her grandmother lived in district 12? Or that Emme herself was born and raised in district 12 for the first few years of her life? No. It was the secret that she hid nobody not even Ashe or Marcus knew about. And especially not Coriolanus.

  Emme was so caught up in her own mind she didn't see the girl in the rainbow dress appear coming towards the girl.

"I thought it was you.." Emme jumped slightly at the noice to see Lucy Gray. "I'm Sorry.. I didn't mean to startle you."

"No, it's fine. LG.." Emme said with a soft smile. Lucy Gray smiled.

"I thought you didn't remember me or the covey.." Lucy Gray said.

"How could I forget my first friend.. we grew up there together for awhile.." Emme said. Bringing up the past and reminiscing. "I'm sorry if I made it look like that.."

"Nah, I understand it must be tough in the capital.. especially with your family.." Emme had almost forgotten that Lucy Gray knew about her family issues.

"I'm glad that you're alive.." Emme said.

"Me too. I can finally go home to the covey plus spend sometime with my old friend." Lucy Gray said with a small smile.

"I'm not going to try to act like I know what you've been through in that arena but I know it's not going to be easy but you are strong. If you focus on the bright side of what you have and that you survived soon enough the dark memories will soon fade into distant memories." Emme tried comforting Lucy Gray. She smiled in appreciation but it dropped.

"I'm sor-" "It's not your fault." Emme interrupted her. Lucy grays eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"I know what Coriolanus did. I know he gave you the compact. And..." Emme explained, looking off.

"You probably made it easier for her to go.." Emme said with a sad smile.

  She looked over at Lucy gray seeing the guilt of what haunted her without thinking she brought the girl into a hug comforting her. The girl was in shock before relaxing into the much needed hug.

  The two girls reminisced about old times and caught each other up on each other's life.

"If you don't mind me asking how did you manage to leave?" Lucy Gray asked, eye brows furrowed in confusion.

"Our caretaker Mrs.Figgs helped me leave to go see my grandmother for awhile." Emme answered.

"Still lives in the cottage not that far from the covey." Lucy Gray said. "She always gives Maude Ivory and the rest of us covey the sweets she makes." Emme laughed.

"That sounds like her." She said.

"Do you still write and sing?" Lucy gray asked.

"Not as much as I once did.. but yes." Emme said.

"Maude Ivory always sings the one you called 'The Raven' she always jokes that she's going to name her daughter Lenore." Lucy Gray commented as she giggled at the thought of Maude Ivory.

"I still can't believe she remembers that." Emme said laughing softly. The train hauls to a stop which signalled the girls that they had arrived in District 12.

"Maybe you can come and visit after you get settled. I'm sure everyone would love to see you." Lucy Gray suggested, wanting to ease her mind with a hopefully positive one.

"If thats alright. I will and I will bring some sweets with me." Emme teased the last part. Lucy Gray laughed.

"Please do!" They both laughed. as the started to get off the train.

~~~~

"You know, I thought I might find you here sitting all by yourself." A voice said behind Coriolanus.

"Sejanus, what are you doing..." Coriolanus asked in disbelief "What do you think?"

"After what I did in the arena, my father had to buy the Academy a brand-new gym just so I could get my diploma." Coriolanus looked at him in disbelief.

"He begged me to stay. But once I found out where they were sending you.." Sejanus sighed. " I couldn't get out fast enough. Barely made the train because of this stupid knee. But it's okay. They gave me some morphling for the pain." Sejanus said, giving a tight smile.

"You volunteered for this?" Coriolanus realizing what Sejanus was getting at. "What about your brother?"

"I figure I get through basic and then maybe I become a medic. Make a real difference out here. Just like you said." He looked out the window.

"And Marcus.. got kicked out. He disappeared not long after everything went down..." Sejanus looked over at him his eye brows stitched together.

"They never told us what you did."

"I cheated." Coriolanus said, looking off. "To save Lucy Gray from the snakes..."

"Do you think they killed her?"

"Why would they risk it? She was a big hit. If there is a Games next year." Sejanus laughed. Coriolanus let out a slight one. "They're probably gonna invite her to sing at the opening ceremony."

"The dean said something to me... about Emme.." Coriolanus said, his eyes stirring with something that Sejanus couldn't pinpoint.

"What about Em?" Sejanus asked using your nickname which made Coriolanus's jaw clench slightly. He took a deep breath.

"He said that, I wouldn't be able to save her from..." Sejanus looked at him in confusion. "Her father's rage.."

"That could mean a lot of things Corio but.." Coriolanus looked over at Sejanus. "What?"

"Marcus said that the reason why Ashe and Em are so close is because he's helped her. With her wounds.."

After Coriolanus heard what Sejanus was saying he caught on to what Highbottom was saying. Could he have had been that blind? To worried about himself? That he didn't realize what you were going through. He was seething. How could somebody do that to you? Why wouldn't you tell him?

"I haven't even seen her since the games.." Sejanus said. Coriolanus nodded slightly. "You know, when you came in, I was weighing the merits of suicide." Coriolanus said his voice wavering a bit.

"When we're about to be free? My friend, don't give them the satisfaction." Coriolanus looked at him. "Your life has just begun. You're gonna do great... We're both gonna do great."

"Just be careful. Okay?" Coriolanus said to Sejanus but it came out more like a warning. "It's a different world out here."

As they heard the train approached the station and come to a stop.

~~~~

As Emme and Lucy Gray walked up the path leading towards the Covey house and Emme's Grandmothers house.

"I just wanted you to know one thing. Coriolanus and I are merely friends. If you can even call us that?" Lucy Gray said, Emme furrowed her brows in confusion at the sudden switch in conversation. Lucy Gray let out a soft laugh.

"I see the way you were avoiding it. Besides the way he would talk about you and look at you.. and I have-had my eyes on someone else I'd gotten to know.." Lucy Gray drifted off with a small smile.

"Who?" Emme asked but stopped her self. "Wait are you talking about... Sejanus?" Lucy Gray blushed and nodded slightly. Emme smiled.

"Good. Because I can/could tell he liked you too. He would also talk about you." Lucy Gray smiled, nudging the girl slightly Em let out a soft laugh. She stopped at the house concluding that she had arrived.

"Well this is me. It was really nice catching up with you." Emme said, Lucy gray pulled her into a hug.

"Thank you for helping me ease my mind for a while also we will probably be performing at the hob in a few days. You should come." Lucy gray said, Emme gave a hesitant nod.

"No, you don't have to sing. Just come dance have a drink or two." She said. Emme sighed in a bit of relief as she caved.

"Alright, I'll come." Emme said. Lucy Gray smiled. "Good! I'll pick you up with the rest of the covey and I can't promise that Maude Ivory won't have you sing when come to visit." The pair laughed.

"We'll see. I'll see you then LG." Emme said using her nickname. Lucy Gray smiled.

"See you then Em mer." Lucy Gray said using her nickname for Emme. They both went their separate ways.

Emme opened the door to the small cottage that still looked the same from when she was 13. Her last time when she was here., before her father cut her off from coming to visit or stay.

"Grams?" Emme called out as she entered the small cottage.

"Emme? Is that you?" Her grandmother asked coming around the corner.

She paused before placing the towels in her hands down and engulfing her into a big hug.

"Mrs. Vikes tellagramed me that you were coming." She said, Emme nodded. "Oh dear. Let's go get you cleaned up and we can catch up." Emme smiled and nodded. Letting her grandma lead the way.

~~(Few Days later:To the night at the hob)~~

"Hey! Hoff's given us all leave passes for the weekend!" Coriolanus heard one of the peacekeepers say to a group.

"Boost morale?" One asked.

"Boost morale!"

  As they walked down the stairs to dingy pub. They heard lively chatter and upbeat Country music playing.

"Hey, uh, I'm gonna go get a drink." Sejanus informed Coriolanus who gave him a nod.

Coriolanus looked around the pub his eyes came to a halt as he looked directly at... Emme. Sure it wasn't true.. there was no way Emme Reinswood was in District 12.. no way his girl was here.. but their she was dancing to the beat in the middle of the crowd hips swaying dress twirling. Rhythmic Stomping as the music comes to an end as people clapped.

"Is it hot in here?" Maude Ivory asked.

"Yeah!" The crowd around Emme shouted she laughed lightly at the little girls enthusiasm.

  On the way to the hob, her eyes lit up and tackled her into a hug when she saw when she was back. "My two favorite people are back!!" Were her words which made her and Lucy Gray laugh. Now here where Emme was finally having a good time listening to the covey once again and letting herself be free in the music.

"'Cause we're plannin' on heating it up a set more. The one, the only, Lucy Gray Baird!" Maude Ivory announced as the crowd cheered and Lucy Gray came up onto stage.

"Well, hey there, District 12, did you miss me?" Lucy Gray asked.

"Yeah!" The crowd cheered.

"I bet you never expected to lay eyes on me again. And, let me tell you, that goes both ways. But I am back. I sure am back!" Lucy Gray announced. Sejanus looked at her with awe and happiness as she was okay. Coriolanus also smiled slightly but his eyes kept drifting back to the crowd where Emme was.

"Oh! Is that bottle there for me? Oh, come on, y'all. You know, I gave up drinking when I was 12." Lucy Gray said taking a quick sip of the alcohol as the crowd laughed and cheered.

"It's to clear my pipes, y'all. To clear my pipes. Now, how about a song, huh?"

"Yeah!" The crowd applauded and cheered.

" Can't take my past, Can't take my historyYou could take my pa But his name's a mystery" Lucy Gray sang

"Yeah!" A man yelled.

"Nothing you could take from meWas ever worth keepin'Oh, nothing you can take Was ever worth keepin'" The rest of the Covey joined her playing their instruments.

"Come on!" Lucy Gray hollered. As people cheered and started dancing.

"Hey! Would you like to dance?" A guy next to Emme asked. He didn't seem off or untrustworthy and it was just a dance so.. "sure.." Emme said, taking the guys hand as he twirled her around she laughed lightly.

  Not knowing that a pair of very familiar eyes from across the room were watching her and jealousy/anger pierced in his eyes as he watched her dance with a district scum.

"Thinkin' you'll change me Maybe rearrange me

Think again if that's your goal

Ooh ♪" Lucy Gray sang but was cut off when she heard her name.

"Lucy Gray! Lucy Gray!" A guy shouted drunkly as he pushed his way through the crowd.

"Billy Taupe!" The mayor's daughter shouted.

"You're sounding kind of thin, Lucy Gray." Billy said.

"Billy! Billy!"

"You're all sounding thin without me. No?"

"Billy!"

"I've got it." Billy said pushing Mayfair out of the way.

"Billy!" Mayfair shouted as the music dies down.

"Billy! You swore you wouldn't play with them again, Billy Taupe." He pushed her once more a bit harsher this time. As gasps were heard.

"Come on!" The crowed exclaimed disappointed.

"Hey why don't we get out of here." The guy that Emme was dancing with asked.

"Huh, no I'm good.." Emme asked trying to move away as she was now getting uncomfortable.

"Oh come on! Don't be a tease!" He said grabbing her arm harshly.

"Settle down, settle down." Lucy gray said. As the crowd started shouting and Mayfair shrieking.

"I know you miss me, Lucy Gray." Billy said grabbing onto Lucy Grays skirt.

  Sejanus stood up as he didn't like what Billy was doing. Coriolanus looked over at the crowd to Emme as he saw the guy not letting go and stood up as well. People around them getting into fights with the peacekeepers trying to stop it.

"Get your hands off me right now." Lucy Gray shouted, trying to pull her skirt away.

"Come on don't be like that babe." The guy said.

"N-no let go of me." Emme said trying to get him off of her but his grip tightened as he yanked her.

"Come on you wear a little get up like that? Your practically are asking for it.."

"I said, no! Get off of m-" "Don't touch her!" Emme heard as the guy was pulled off of her and punched to the ground.

"Coryo, stop!" Sejanus said after he himself was just pulled off of Billy Taupe:

"Get off me, get off me!" Coriolanus pushed him away.

"What are you, crazy?" Sejanus asked, Pulling him off. Coriolanus looked at Emme. Emme looked at the two guys her breathing stopped as she saw Coriolanus and Sejanus. Coriolanus looked at Sejanus who pulled his arms again. Emme got pulled away by Tam amber as he guided her out towards the rest of the covey.

"Come on. We gotta get out of here." Sejanus said pulling his arm. Coriolanus looked back to see her gone before he let Sejanus guide him out but his eyes kept wandering around.

Sirens walliled outside as crowds were shouting and groaning.

"Who'd have thought I'd have to save you?" Sejanus asked a bit out of breath. They both laughed at his comment.

"She's here. She's alive" Coriolanus said.

"Lucy Gray? Yeah she is." Sejanus said, a smile on his lips. Coriolanus shook his head which Sejanus eyebrows furrowed.

"No, Emme she's here and she's alive. I saw her.." Coriolanus said, Sejanus smirked as he nodded.

"So that's who I had to drag you away from." They both let out a laugh again as they headed back to a base.

~~~~

Word Count: 2642

(A/n: Surprise!! I hope you like the big surprise that I had thrown in! I wanted to put a spin on this story after reading SOTR and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to do so! Let me know what y'all think! And comments, advice, and let me know what y'all would like to see happen or what might happen! :))