The sun is shining bright and warm and there isn't a cloud in sight. In a region where beautiful days like this are rare, today would normally be a welcome change for the residents of District 12. Instead it seems mocking. Today of course is reaping day. The day that 2 children from each District will be selected to participate in the 125th annual Hunger Games: a televised fight to the death from which a single victor is crowned. For some of the districts, participating in the Hunger Games is an honor and their tributes volunteer after spending years training in a special academy. In District 12 it's a hyped up death sentence.

In the history of the Games there has only ever been a single victor from 12: Burt Hummel. He won his Games when he was 17 and has been mentoring each pair of tributes ever since. Today's reaping will be especially hard on Burt whose son and stepson are both 18 and in the drawing pool for the last time. The anxiety is even higher because this year is a Quarter Quell. Every 25 years the Capitol announces some horrible twist designed to remind the people in the Districts of the consequences of rebellion. And of course add entertainment value.

This year's Quell is a repeated version of the 25th Games where the tributes will be voted upon by their own neighbors. Beginning at sunrise, the District's adults have been summoned to the square to cast their vote for this year's tributes. Ever since the announcement of this year's twist there has been a great deal of discussion whether they should send the strong, athletic kids who stand the best chance at survival or simply to send whoever would be missed the least.

Burt worries that either way that one of his boys will become a tribute. His stepson Finn is one of the strongest and most popular teenagers in the District and there have been whispers that he might stand a decent chance of gaining some sponsors in the Capitol. On the other hand, his son Kurt has had a hard life in District 12. Being one of the only openly gay residents in the District has made him an easy target. He's been harassed and ridiculed almost all his life, and there was little Burt could do to protect him from it. No matter how hard Kurt worked to build himself up, someone was always waiting to tear him back down.

Then there was the added misfortune of being the children of a victor. It happened too frequently for it to be a coincidence when a victor's child was reaped. It must make for better entertainment in the Capitol with everyone wondering if they'd inherited a killer instinct. That definitely wasn't the case with the Hudson-Hummel family. Finn may look muscular and athletic, but he was completely harmless and Burt didn't think Kurt would ever lose the sadness he'd worn on his face since his mom died. A sickness had hit the poor areas in 12  when he was only eight and she never stood a chance. It was only in the last year that a true smile returned to Kurt's face. Burt didn't have to be a genius to figure out the reason.

Blaine Anderson was the only son of the Head Peacekeeper assigned to 12 last year. When their last Head Peacekeeper resigned, Devon Anderson took the position and moved with his son from the Capitol in order to settle his immense gambling debts. Almost immediately, Blaine and Kurt fell into an easy friendship that slowly blossomed into romance over the past few months. As reaping day got closer, the two have been almost inseparable. There was no chance of Blaine being selected as a tribute. Even though he was new to the District, everyone feared retaliation from his father if they wrote his name down. Instead Blaine had spent the last few weeks calming Kurt down whenever his anxiety started getting the better of him.

Kurt didn't know what worried him more: his own name being called, or Blaine's. Everyone said Blaine was as safe as you could get because of the position his father held. But Kurt still worried. And then there was his brother to think about. Sure, Finn was strong, but there wasn't a violent bone in his body. He would never be able to take a life, even if it was the only way to save his own. And Finn's size would make it impossible for the other tributes to overlook him. If his name was called, it would likely mean an especially violent death for Finn. Most families in 12 spent as much time together as possible on reaping day, hoping for the best but always preparing to say goodbye.

As a mentor, Burt had to be at the square much earlier than everyone else, so Kurt and Blaine had spent the morning together at the Anderson house. Blaine's father was also at the square to meet the additional Peacekeepers who arrive for reaping day in case one of the tributes tries to run. As if anyone would ever try. The entire District is surrounded by an electrified fence. Beyond that were deep woods concealing who knew what dangers. There was no escape from the reaping.

Blaine and Kurt sat in relative silence on the front porch, arms wrapped around each other and both hoping they'd find themselves in the same position later tonight. Blaine kissed Kurt's forehead gently and tightened his grip around his boyfriend.

“It's going to be alright.” Blaine assured him. If he said it aloud, maybe he'd actually believe it himself. Truthfully, Kurt's worries mirrored his own. Having grown up in the Capitol, Blaine knew that when it comes to the Games, you've got to expect the unexpected. He also knew to anticipate inevitable heartbreak.

“You don't know that.” Kurt whispered back. “They hate me.” A tear slid down Kurt's face as he thought back on the abuse he'd endured from his neighbors and classmates over the years. About how many times he had thought about volunteering for the Games just as a way to end it. His father had been the only thing preventing him from stepping up. This year was different. Sheer dumb luck had kept him safe this far. The Quarter Quell changed that for him. It would be so easy for them to send him to the Games. Other than his small family and Blaine, no one would care if he never came home. Blaine. He was the reason Kurt was so terrified this year. His father, Finn, and his stepmother would all have each other and Kurt knew that in time, without the reaping hanging over their heads anymore, they would be able to move on. But for the first time since his mother died, Kurt had someone he was afraid to leave behind. Or worse, someone he could lose.

Blaine remained silent, knowing that Kurt was right. He knew the only thing keeping him safe was the fact that everyone was afraid of his father. He held Kurt close and hoped the odds would be in their favor one last time.

All too soon it was time to head to the square and face the reaping. Along the way they met up with Finn and his girlfriend Rachel. She had been Kurt's only friend for years, both of them outcasts at school and sharing a love of music. Sure, Rachel was extremely annoying at times, but she had a heart of gold and was one of the only people in the District who was supportive of their relationship. Blaine and Finn acknowledged each other with a solemn nod, Rachel grabbed Kurt's free hand, and the four of them entered the square together. As they filed into the square, Rachel was ushered to the holding area for girls while the rest shuffled toward the boys' area. Rachel squeezed Kurt's hand and gave Blaine a one-armed hug.

“We'll see you soon Berry.” Blaine told her, not letting go of Kurt's hand as he hugged her tight with his free arm. Unable to speak, Rachel just nodded numbly. He kissed her on the cheek, hoping that this wasn't goodbye.

Finn pulled Rachel into his arms as she sobbed silently into his chest. “It's our last year. We'll never have to do this again.” Finn's efforts at reassurance seemed futile as Rachel's body shook with sobs. Only the impatient looks from the peacekeepers finally made Finn pull away, kissing Rachel one more time as he was corralled into the boy's waiting area a few rows behind where Kurt and Blaine were standing.

Burt sat on stage looking out at the district's children as the Mayor handed two envelopes to the Capitol escort. Every year for as long as anyone could remember, Sue Sylvester had drawn the names of the two tributes and traveled with them to the Capitol where they would prepare together for the Games. She was a formidable woman who gave the impression that she had far better things to do than be bothered with District 12. Burt imagined that her hard exterior was a defense mechanism borne from seeing tribute after tribute fall over the years. While he wouldn't consider her as a friend, Sue was Burt's anchor during the Games. After a brief unheard exchange with the Mayor, she stepped up to the microphone and addressed the crowd.

“Happy Hunger Games and may the odds be ever in your favor. I'm contractually obligated to say that. We all know someone's luck is about to run out. Mine did when I got assigned to 12. I just wanted one day a year where I'm not assaulted by uglies and fatties. So I'm here instead of in the Capitol. Let's just get down to business. As always, ladies first.” After a brief pause, Sue opened the first envelope to read the name of the selected female tribute. Frowning, she looked back at the Mayor, Burt, and Blaine's father. As she turned away from the microphone they heard her ask “is this supposed to be some kind of joke?” She showed them the card in her hand.

Everyone around them was whispering to each other trying to figure out what was happening. Blaine knew this wasn't going to be good. The look on Burt's face when he saw the card told him that much. He looked like someone had punched him in the stomach. After a hushed argument between Sue and the Mayor, she returned to the microphone and with a defeated sounding voice announced “the female tribute for the 125th Hunger Games is Kurt Hummel.”