It's like watching grey clouds converge into one, watching as a storm begins to take hold, as Coin falls and people converge onto Katniss.

Part of her wants to watch the girl die, part of her is quite pleased with the outcome, but Peeta is yelling and she remembers once that she had sworn to protect that boy and he was running for Katniss and Terra didn't actually hate the girl as much as she claimed she did, so she was running too, reaching her before anyone else could hammer, still in hands as she held it out threateningly to anyone that dared get too close.

She grabbed at the girl, encompassing her as much as her tiny stature allowed, shielding her from the blurs of grey until Peeta arrived and was grabbing at Katniss firmly.

Terra screams and shouts, yelling at them to get back, to stay away, and together, they manage to knock Katniss out and pull her away, out of sight of the calls of treason and protest into the arms of Plutarch and Commander Paylor that order her to be placed into her room with the doors locked.

It's the safest place for the Mockingjay until something can be decided. Haymitch is already there, speaking words smooth as honey, and Finnick appears, thanking her over and over, for what, she wasn't exactly sure, but she clings to him, holding tight as a buzzing fills her ears.

This was too much, way too much, and she could see the blood that was still on her hands, poorly hidden behind his back.

"I'm happy Coin's dead," she finds herself saying, much louder than she wished, but it freezes everyone in their tracks, commotion dying still. She can hear Johanna cackling.

"Me too! What a terrible woman!"

Annie shakes, closely tucked into Johanna's side, a glazed look in her eyes. "She was going to be as bad as Snow."

And that was what made Paylor decide, rather firmly, that the Victors' were to be included in the talks. It was important since the nation looked to them still, despite everything that they had done. They were representative of their district and the torture of the Capitol.

No one would protest their wisdom again, it would seem.

And the talks draw on for what seems like forever, until they vote Paylor into power, and decided Katniss is to be pardoned, much to Peeta's utter relief and joy. Terra has no doubt that he would follow her anywhere.

As long as it was far from the Capitol.

Which, looking at Annie, reminded her quite well of the promise she had made.

They would always be welcome in the Capitol, she was positive, and she could return whenever she wanted now, but she didn't want to stay. She had been here much longer, much more often, than any of the other Victors' it would seem.

It was how she found herself in Katniss' room, stood by her window as the girl packed her things.

"When I was being held in the Capitol with the others, when we were still relatively safe, Annie and I had created this entire scenario that we would use to get by," Terra comments, looking back to Katniss as the girl slowed her actions, listening. "We decided that we would all live together, all the Victors', or at least the ones we like, away from everyone else so they couldn't bother us unless we let them."

Katniss snorts, but she waits, waiting to hear.

"We would live in a little shack in the forest or a cabin on the beach, but somewhere away from all of this, from the memories, you know," she tells her. "We would all get our own home and it would look however we wanted. We could fish for our food and have a little garden that me and Peeta would care for. You would hunt. I can have a small farm. Finnick would do all the heavy lifting and get the fish.

"Johanna could live next door cursing about everything. We were going to force Beetee to come with us, convince him to get us electricity and Haymitch could make some kind of deadly moonshine creation," Terra laughs, turning to face Katniss fully. "We imagined this whole happy life with all of us together. It's a little silly sounding, but it seems nice, doable."

"No, one is going to want me around," Katniss says, softly.

"You're wrong. They do, we all do. I don't want you going back to District 12 to be alone. It isn't healthy."

"Well, I'm not welcome here."

"I'm not staying here. I was thinking of District 4. You would like it there, I think. We can stay in their Victor Village or we can all go somewhere else together."

"They're sending me to 12, Terra."

She scowls. "Then tell them no. If you don't want to go back to 12, tell them no. After everything they've put us through, after everything they've done to you, tell them no, Katniss."

"I killed Coin," she says, voice harsh with emotion. "This is my punishment."

"Screw punishment. She was going to be just as bad as Snow. You did us all a favour."

"I- I don't know."

At this, she smiles, a soft, welcoming thing that was more genuine than it had ever been with the girl. "Think about it. Go back to 12, but don't forget that you're always welcome wherever we end up."

"I will."

"And don't forget to call, Katniss, and write. We don't want to lose you after everything."

Katniss nods, eyes wet with unshed tears. "I thought you hated me."

"I thought I did too, but I can't bear to see you hurt, for some reason," Terra chuckles, shaking her head. "You're like some kind of parasite."

Laughing, they pack the rest of Katniss' things together, calm as no one else came to see her. Their district leaders wanted to keep their Victors' away from the girl with the announcement of the election, but Terra hadn't listened to her mother in years.

She knew they rather be here instead of standing before everyone for the public announcement. She had no plan of going to that thing regardless, more so when Finnick had agreed with her plans.

And when that was all over, she watched as Katniss left, Haymitch loyally at her side and she felt hope flutter in her chest as she lay a hand across her stomach. She was ready to go home.

It took much longer than she would have liked to get everything approved for the return to 4. Paylor wanted to bestow them with honours and gifts. The woman had announced that they would have their names written as heroes of the war, heroes of freedom, and if that wasn't enough, they were all made members of the council. They would never be ignored, never be forgotten, and the monument erected for the Victors' alive and forgotten, for all the tributes long gone, with their names scrawled along the bottom, ensured that.

Terra had cried more than she ever had, hormones getting to her finally. as her body decided it was going to act like she was pregnant. Johanna thought it was hilarious. Annie was sympathetic with her giggles.

When most of the rebuilding was finally done, when they weren't technically needed in the Capitol, when they were free to go, Terra had taken Finnick's hand and told him she was ready to go home. With him. Wherever he wanted.

Annie decided District 4 for them when she came in sporting a hat saying she was ready to learn how to properly care for a garden and farm animals.

It warmed her heart, a joyous sort of feeling that made her tear up once more.

They were on the train, Annie happily sorting through the box of seeds she had gotten from Beetee in the Capitol, muttering about where they were going to place the garden, when Finnick grabbed her hand, linking their fingers together.

"Are you sure you don't want to stop in 10 to get your things?" he asks softly.

She shakes her head. "Henrik and Raven agreed to pack everything up for me. They're sending it over as soon as they can. They understand why I don't want to go back there."

"They told me they would send over some calves and piglets when the babies are born," Annie pipes up happily.

"And a few lambs when they can."

"So we're going to have a farm now too?" he says, smile in his voice.

Nodding, she kisses his fingers. "That's what happens when you marry a rancher. I might not be that much of a milkmaid, but I think Annie's going to have a touch for it."

"And what am I to do?"

"You technically don't have to do anything, but you can help me build the pens. And you can fish."

"I can fish?" Finnick laughs.

"It's not like we need to work. We still have our life winnings."

"And if I want to work?"

"Then good on you."

He puts an arm around her shoulder, holding her close to his side. Annie smiles, a bright beaming grin that makes her face light up.

They were going to have a wonderful time. A wonderful life.

People were waiting at the train station, shouting their names and reaching blindly, as though touching them would prove they were real, prove they were enough. They were given welcoming gifts (more gifts that she didn't know what to do with) and the reassurance that the homes in Victor Village had been left untouched for them upon their return because they deserved it after the war.

Settling in had been surprisingly easy for her, as had the adjustment of living with Finnick. It was as if they had always lived together, always been together. Terra found that it was easy to belong in District 4.

Her things came with the arrival of her brother and his family, Johanna trailing behind, hair once more shaved close to the head.

Finnick and Annie were out, both having gone down to the sea to fish because no matter how much the redhead claimed she sucked, she always came home with her arms full.

"What a pleasant surprise!" she called, jumping at her friend as soon as she released her sister-in-law and niece. "What are you doing here?"

"We had that ridiculous plan, right? I get to be miserable, right?"

Terra grins. "Yup, and you can go anywhere you, whenever you want, so you can head off to 8 to cut down trees whenever you want, though I think Annie has been pushing for them to plant some more along the edge of town."

"Is that so?" Johanna asks, curious.

"She's been getting much better with everything over, and now that we're back in 4, she seems at peace."

Her friend's smile is blinding. "I don't know how she couldn't be with you carrying that stomach of yours around. You're huge, T."

Terra huffs. "I'm pregnant, Jo, that sort of happens."

They load everything into her house with her brother, Terra mostly sitting with Mella, when Finnick and Annie return, happy shots and greetings sounding the moment they spot Johanna.

"You're home!" Annie cries.

No one says anything when Johanna moves in with Annie. Nothing needs to be said. It's happy and complete, and wholesome, and she feels as though she was living in some sort of dream.

Everything falls into place easily around her. Every night Finnick has to remind her that this was real, that she was alive, that they all were, and this was how they were going to live forever.

And when the day comes, not long after Johanna's arrival, and she's sitting on her steps, watching as Annie chases around a piglet as Finnick and Annie work on finishing the pens just within view, far enough that they wouldn't be surrounded by the smell of animals all day, that Katniss comes walking up the one road toward them, Peeta and Haymitch at her sides, bags heavy in their arms, does she know that everything is exactly how it's meant to be.

Katniss is expecting in seven months, the newlywed pair shy about the affair as they move in next door.

Peeta helps her garden and lifts the heavy things. He's attentive as she gives him directions around the animals, and he bakes them sweet foods that she devours.

Haymitch always has funny jokes and stories to tell them, and he's helpful in his own ways, just not the obvious ones. She likes to believe he finally found peace, even if he continues to drink.

Johanna likes to hang around town pretending she isn't interested in the children that always want to hang off of her, ready for her to teach them something. She never grows out her hair.

Annie is happy, always smiling, even when her eyes would sometimes go distant and tears would well in her eyes. She never mentions when a scream will be heard from their little community, never brings attention to it as she cares for them all. Annie is still light and goodness, and she loves Terra and Johanna just as fiercely as she always had, even if things are different now.

Finnick loves her, endlessly, eternally. He saved her life, saved her from the disaster that she was becoming. He was golden and true, always there, always as good and honest that he had always been. Finnick was her anchor, her support at her side, always there to pull her from the darkness that crept up on her, threatening to drown her mercilessly.

And Terra found a family that was hers, a family that understood and would stand at her side loyally. She found her family that would always love her. Terra had fought the battle, fought the war, and she won.

°°°

how fkn cheesy is this shit?? i love a happy ending tho :))))))

unedited

2020-01-18