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SHALL WE RISE?

epilogue.

the beach, 2329.

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THE WAVES LAPPED AT Valencia's bare feet as she stood in the ocean, eyes shut closed as she felt the wind blow through her hair. The sunshine was beaming down onto her face, the seagulls soaring overhead with the sound of the waves crashing onto the sandy beach filling her ears. Valencia took deep breaths as she tried to calm down her racing heart, trying to focus on the sounds that consumed District Four. 

After fifteen years, the feeling of panic never truly left. The panic attacks never ceased and the nightmares didn't stop. Of course, they became rare, but nothing could stop the memories from flooding back. Not even Finnick as he held her in his arms after a dream, though that helped massively. Everyone helped massively. Finnick. Nova. Commie. Billie. Annie. Athena. Eleanor. They all became Valencia's anchors. Everyone had their own anchors here in Four. ("It depends," Valencia told her gently. "You have to find yourself an anchor, something that stops you from going mad.")

And moving to Four was perhaps the best decision Valencia had made in a long time. It was hard at first, the first year being just her, Finnick, Annie, and baby Eleanor. But after that year, Commie and Nova (with her cat that Valencia rarely saw and quite frankly forgot about) soon came down with a bag of their belongings, moving into the beach houses that was next door to Valencia and Finnick on the right and left.

The Victors' Village in Four was much different from the one in Nine. In Valencia's birth district, the mansions were grey and miserable in two long rows. Depending on the house you were assigned, you either saw the beautiful nature of the trees and grain fields or the poverty filled district with smoke billowing from the factories. But in Four, there was beach houses instead that went down in a single line along the sand, a back porch leading out to the beach and ocean. From the windows, you could see the blue, pristine waters lapping onto the golden sand, leaving behind a type of fluffy foam. And whilst the Village was cut off from the rest of the district, it was a short five-minute walk to the main centre of the town where the markets were and the docks where the boats and fisherman loaded in seafood everyday in the morning. 

In Nine, there was always a scent of smoke and sweat from the blistering sun. But in Four, there was the smell of the fish and the sweet scent of whatever fragrance the woman down the road made up and sprayed everywhere. It was always a mixture of either strawberries and vanilla or orange and lemon. Valencia loved the orange and lemon the best. 

And sometimes when the panic attacks were about to rise and burst out like it was now, Valencia would move away from everyone and stand in the water with her feet out, feeling the waves lap at her ankles and digging her toes into the submerged sand to try and ground herself. If that didn't work, she would close her eyes and take deep breaths of the orange and lemon scent, focusing on the seagulls flying over her head. 

"Come on, Aunt Lennie!" Athena Solace called out to her. "Be a part of the family!"

"Athena!" Valencia could hear Billie scold her. 

Around a year after Nova and Commie came bustling into Four, Billie and Athena followed. She stated that she and her daughter needed a new start and that Four offered that chance. And also, she said Nine was not the same without Valencia since all the memories she held there was with her best friend. She and Athena moved into the house neighbouring Annie's and Valencia could not be more pleased. 

Athena had grown into a beautiful, young lady. She still had her sassiness and teasing personality like she did when she was five-six, but she was exactly like her mother in that she had the biggest heart out of everyone. Athena always thrived to help people and would always stop to ask them if they were all right. Even Finnick who she despised as a child. But as she grew older and began to know more about him, she grew to adore the man, the two always fishing early in the morning with the fishermen. And as she came outside more often, her skin became a golden, tanned colour. Her green, blue eyes popped and her blonde hair became much lighter from the sun. Athena looked like she lived in Four all her life. 

And then there was Eleanor. She was the complete opposite of Athena. As a toddler, she never made a fuss and would rather look at picture books than play with the other children in the town. As a child, she was very quiet and shy and even now in her teen years, she was only talkative with her close family. But the moment Eleanor started talking, Valencia was immediately reminded of a younger Antares, the Antares that hadn't won his Games yet and their father was still alive. And not only did Eleanor's talking remind Valencia of Antares, it was her looks. 

Eleanor had inherited her mother's sea green eyes whilst having long, luscious locks of her father's dark brown hair. She was a short girl like her mother and was always in a world of her own like her mum was prior to her birth. But there was always the small moments that reminded everyone of Antares. The smirk she gave people sometimes. The roll of the eyes. Eleanor was definitely Antares and Annie's daughter. 

And whilst everyone loved Eleanor, it was Athena who loved her the most. The Solace girl immediately took the Barlowe girl under her wing the moment she could speak her first word. When Eleanor was a baby, Athena would never leave her alone that sometimes, Annie would have to pry her daughter away from her. As Eleanor got older, Athena acted like a big sister to her. A remarkable moment that would never leave Valencia's mind was when Eleanor came home saying a group of kids was picking on her. Athena came back with bloody knuckles and a massive smirk on her face. The two girls reminded Valencia massively of her and Nova.

"I'm more a part of the family than you, Thena." Valencia chuckled as she opened her eyes and turned around, raising a brow at the view before her. 

Athena was tanning on a lounger with Billie and Annie looking at Finnick, Nova, Commie, and Eleanor with concerned looks. Finnick and Nova were chasing the Barlowe girl around the beach, Commie trying to follow suit, but he kept rolling around the sand since he had chugged a whole bottle of liquor that was of his own creation prior (Commie started up a stall down in the markets selling an array of different home brews. He was the Mary of District Four). "You and you're tanning."

"Hey!" Athena narrowed her eyes at Valencia, raising her sunglasses to look at her. "It takes a lot of work to look this good. You of all people should know that."

Valencia scoffed as she walked back to the group. Her appearance did look different than it did all those years ago. Her hair had grown back and was now more curlier than ever, residing just about the middle of her back. She liked to keep it at that length since she found it too difficult to maintain long hair. And with the sun repeatedly blistering down on her from her days on the beaches, her hair was more damaged than anything as it looked like it was blonde than brown. And her skin. Her skin was not raw anymore and despite the burn scars still looking like swirls on her body and face, they did not look like the pink ones Athena had once stated when she was younger. 

Those statements that Athena said about the pink swirls on her face stopped the moment she got home from school one day. When she was twelve, her and her peers began to learn about the Hunger Games. About the rebellion. About everything that happened in those seventy-five years. And they were told everything. The teachers made them watch all available tapes of each and every Games. They made them watch the propos and the footage of Star Squad in the Capitol. And they named every single tribute that ever entered the arenas (well, the ones that were on record). Some records of the earlier Games were destroyed and those who lived in those times were gone, but the teachers tried their best.

The comments about the pink swirls on Valencia's face and the comments about why Valencia always looked like she had seen a ghost stopped. Athena saw Valencia in a new light, especially after being forced to watch the Sixty-Sixth Games and the Quell. But of course, it being Athena, something always slipped out. 

Eleanor, who was now fifteen, learnt about them a few years ago. She took it harder than Billie, especially since she had to watch her dead father's, her mother's, and her aunt's Games. But the two girls, who were fifteen and twenty-one, accepted the fact that their family was scarred.

"Lennie, can you tell Finnick and Nova to stop?" Annie sighed as she nodded her head at Eleanor, Nova, Finnick, and Commie. "Flint's tripping up everywhere."

"I'm still surprised he still got strength in him." Billie shook her head. "Considering he's seventy-four."

"I think that's the alcohol," Valencia murmured. "He'll feel it later... but yes, I shall stop their fun."

"Party pooper," Athena sang as Valencia walked past her. In response, Valencia bent down, grabbing a handful of sand and throwing it at the young girl. "Ah, that got in my mouth!"

Valencia shook her head as she began to wander over to where the two men, Nova, and Eleanor were. She folded her arms as she watched Nova, Finnick, and Eleanor chortle over a collapsed Commie, who was barking a laugh as well. 

Every time Valencia watched Finnick interact with Eleanor or Athena, she always felt a pang in her heart. She didn't know why since they both agreed to not have children. Even though it was years ago, the memories of all those kids and children that died in the Games were still raw. The memories of themselves killing children was still raw. The girl in the violet jumper was still raw for Finnick and the boy in the orange jacket was still painful for Valencia. They could not have children and they both agreed on that. And anyway, Eleanor and Athena were basically their own children anyway. But still, Valencia felt guilty that Finnick did not have the family he admitted he thought he would have when he was younger. But every time, Finnick would kiss her on the forehead and cheeks, saying that the family they had now was more than enough. 

Valencia supposed the pang she felt was because she knew the Odair line would not go on. The Barlowe line would not live on. Antares conceived a daughter and Valencia did not have children. Finnick did not have children and he was not married. Even after fifteen years, the pair did not get married and they were all right with that. They didn't need some golden band around their fingers to symbolise their love for each other. 

"Finn, Nova, Comm, Ella!" Valencia finally forced herself to call out. "Annie said that's enough."

"Aw, why?" Eleanor sighed as she walked over to her aunt. 

"Because your mum's afraid something will happen to the old man over there." Valencia smirked as she wrapped her arm around her niece's shoulders.

"Who are you calling old?" Commie scoffed as she tried to get up from the sand, his words slurred as he tried to walk to Valencia. His limp caused him to go crashing again, but Finnick and Nova were there to quickly catch him. "You're forty!"

"And you're seventy-four." Valencia shook her head. "What are you trying to prove?"

("Are you serious?" Commie scoffed. "Seriously, you're both acting like children. You're twenty-four now, Lennie. Terry is thirty-one."

"And you're fifty-eight, what are you trying to prove?")

"Yeah, you're seventy-four." Finnick laughed. "And you have a permanent limp. How are you managing without your cane?"

Commie furrowed his eyebrows as he scanned the area. "Where is my cane?"

"Here, Comm." Nova smiled as she walked over to a mound of sand and dug up Commie's cane, handing it over to him. "You dropped it when you fell."

"Thank you, O'Malley." Commie sighed as Finnick let him go and he stood up on his own, his cane supporting him. "Well, I think Billie and Annie are going to bite my head off for being drunk so I'm going back to my house."

"Making new brews, Comm?" Valencia asked him as he began to wonder off.

"Yep," he called back as he waved to the three girls on the loungers. "I'm making peach, grape, and cherry. I managed to snatch the recipe off of Mary's granddaughter, bless her soul."

("Which one do you want?" Commie asked as he looked at the bottles. "Peach, cherry, or grape?"

"I'll have the peach one."

Commie handed her the peach liquor and he took the cherry one out of her hands, "This one for me and the grape we can give to O'Malley")

"You really are the Mary of Four, aren't you?"

"And I am proud of it!"

"Feed my cat!" Nova managed to yell out.

"Fine!"

As they watched Commie stumble off back to his home, saying goodbye to Athena, Billie, and Annie, Eleanor muttered from between Valencia, Nova, and Finnick, "I don't think he should be proud about being an alcoholic."

"Yeah, I don't think so," Valencia muttered. "But he's seventy-four with a limp and a hunch... he deserves all the liquor in the world."

"If he wants to get a fatty liver," Nova mumbled under her breath as she wandered back over to the others with Eleanor. "And if he doesn't feed my cat—"

("Bloody hell, Lennie," Commie groaned as he watched Valencia wipe her mouth clean. "Have you ever thought about going sober? You're going to get a fatty liver, you know.")

Valencia shook her head with a smile as she watched the girl, Finnick wrapping his arm around her as he kissed the top of her head. With a sigh, Valencia leaned her head on his shoulder. There was moments like these that she adored. Moment of just her and Finnick standing on the beach, watching their chaotic family. 

"Are you all right?" Finnick whispered in her ear, kissing her temple. "You walked off."

"Yeah..." Valencia sighed as she lifted her head to look up at him. "I just needed to get away for a bit."

"You want to talk about it?"

"It's just..." she started. "There's still that fear that someone might come and take all of this away. I don't know, it's silly—"

"It's not silly," Finnick interrupted her, shaking his head. "I think everyone feels the same way. I know Peeta and Katniss do. Jo does. Annie does. I do. I think it's because for the first time in our lives, we are at peace."

"And that's something we've never felt before," Valencia concluded, taking a deep breath before smiling. "But now we have."

"And I wouldn't trade it for anything." Finnick smirked at her before adding, "I love you, Lennie."

"I love you, Finn."

The two pulled each other in for a kiss, laughing and smiling as they did. They stood in each other's arms for a while, admiring the faces of their partner until they heard someone gag from behind Valencia.

"Get a room, you two." Athena winced as she stared at them with a raised eyebrow, ankle deep in the water with Eleanor by her side. "Honestly, you're worse than that couple down at the docks."

"You compare us two to the couple down at the docks again, I will tell your mother about what me and Nova found down at the markets." Valencia raised her finger at her, Finnick wincing as he recalled the affectionate couple that were always down at the docks.

"You wouldn't." Athena narrowed her eyes at Valencia.

"Oh, I will."

"Well, I'll tell my mother about how you and Mr Commie gave me a sip of his home brew," Athena challenged.

"I didn't give you a sip. You stole—"

"Wait!" Eleanor interrupted Valencia. "Is she talking about the guy you snogged down at the rocks?"

"No, you rat!"

Valencia raised an eyebrow as she watched Athena start to chase Eleanor down the beach, the Barlowe girl chortling as she tried to run away from the blonde. Finnick shook his head as he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to refrain the smirk that threatened to play on his lips. 

Athena, despite inheriting her mother's kindness, also had a bit of her Aunt Jessica in her. She was definitely a boy magnet and always had a new guy every month. But the one that kept reappearing was this dirty blonde boy that was a daily customer at Billie's stall down at the markets. 

Ever since moving to Four, Billie was trying to find different jobs. In the end, she managed to snatch up a stall at the markets beside Commie's, selling platters of seafood and fish as the fisherman (and Nova since she now started working at the docks) needed someone to replace the old man who originally ran it. Ever since opening the stall, the same dirty blonde boy kept coming and buying platters. Most specifically on the days where Billie dragged Athena down to help. Something was definitely going on with the two twenty-one-year-old's, something Valencia repeatedly teased Athena about ever since she and Nova caught them one day. 

And whilst Valencia feigned disgust, she was quite pleased that Athena was out living her life. The girl was not afraid to speak her mind and was most definitely strong enough to look after herself. Valencia did not worry about Athena. But, of course, Billie did despite everyone trying to calm her down. But Valencia understood. She was just a protective mother trying to do her best. And by being so, she had produced one of the most gorgeous girls anyone ever laid eyes on. And so did Annie.

But every time Valencia ever looked at her little family she grew to love, she always felt like something was missing. Antares should be here to see his daughter grow and become a girl he would be proud of. Her father should be here to joke around with Finnick, Nova, and Commie. Her mother should be here to talk quietly with Annie and Billie. Delphine should be here going crazy over the two young girls, trying to make them wear her silly dresses and wigs. Dominica should still be here in Four, chuckling with Finnick by her side. Donna should be here with Rome as they sat on the rocks quietly, watching the sun. Silas, despite Valencia's initial dislike and somewhat confusion on how she felt towards him, should at least had a chance at life. Mags could have been here obsessing over Valencia and Finnick. Anita and Daniel could have been here getting drunk and high with Commie. All these people should have been here. But they weren't. They were all dead. 

All the people that Valencia loved deeply or had been in her life for years were dead. All of those people should have been here to see Valencia grow and evolve. All of the people didn't get to see Valencia happy or get to see her with her new family. They either saw her at her lowest or didn't get to see her become a new person. Half the people who had died saw her as an intimidating, aggressive killer. But she wasn't like that anymore. 

And whilst Valencia was more than grateful for the family she had now, there was still a part of her that longed for everyone who had died to come back. And whilst everything was excellent with Billie and Commie's businesses, Nova's new job, Athena and Eleanor's growing up, Ezra and the pastel trio's inevitable fame in the Capitol, and Valencia and Finnick's relationship, those who died should still see all of it. Delphine. Antares. Her mother. Her father. Donna. Dominica. Rome. Silas. Even Confetti, Louis, Jacob, and Clara, who despite them being Valencia's enemies, deserved to have a future. All of them did. Every single tribute who died in the Games deserved to have a future. 

And whilst the arenas destroyed and the memorials built, nothing could be enough for the lives taken in those seventy-five years of the Hunger Games. Not even the memorial that listed every single tribute that they could find, every single life taken in the Hunger Games and rebellion in-front of the president's mansion, was enough. But Paylor was doing the best she could. She knew that none of it was enough, but everyone who was a victim to Snow's torture was touched by her.

But Valencia could never be more grateful for everyone in her life and everyone who died. Every single person who came and stayed in her life or came and left, she was grateful for. They all taught her lessons. They all showed her kindness in some way and form. All of them moulded Valencia into who she was today.  They all left their marks on her. Delphine with her constant reminders of manners. Donna with her innocence. Dominica with her bravery. Silas with his strength. Her father with his kindness. Her mother with her softness. Antares with everything he ever did for Valencia. Rome with his empathy. Confetti, Louis, Jacob, and Clara with their toughness. Even the cannibal from Five formed her with his eye-opener acts, making her realise the true cruelty of their world. All of these people that were dead, some that Valencia hated whilst some that Valencia loved, all participated in making her who she was. Without them, Valencia would not be the loving, brave, strong woman she was today. 

Without them, Valencia would not have found it in her heart to feel things. And oh, was Valencia glad that they opened her heart up in many ways because she wanted to feel. She wanted to feel all the bad things and good things. She wants to feel every single emotion that courses through her veins and brain. Valencia wants to cherish life now, she wants to live now. She wants to live for Finnick. For Nova. For Billie. For Commie. For Annie. For Athena. For Eleanor. For Johanna. For Katniss and Peeta. And that never would have happened if it weren't for those who were now gone. 

And so, to those above, Valencia Barlowe thanks them.

⇢ ˗ˏˋ matz 🎧 !

— holy shit it's finished. it's done

i want to say thank you to everyone who commented, read, voted on this book, it truly means the entire world to me and i am so grateful

and i'm quite happy with the ending. there was different alternatives, multiple different scenarios that nearly happened throughout the ff, but i am so glad how it turned out

thank you above and beyond x