Katniss

I stared blankly as he cut up the bread into slices. I watched how his large hands guided the knife so gracefully over the bread, coating each slice with butter. I didn't look him in the eye as he left the plate with two slices in front of me and left with a click of the shutting door. The silence was deafening. I had become a shell of my former self. Looking around my kitchen, I was ashamed. My mother's healing herbs were long dead and withered in their mason jars, my father's jacket lay battered on the floor. I hadn't the will to even pick it up, my favourite piece of clothing. I heard a glass fall and land with a crash on the floor. Turning, I saw the culprit and turned away in disgust, my stomach twisting while my heart ached. It was Buttercup – her cat. Prim. I closed my eyes and willed away the images of my burning sister, my failed attempts at saving her. I was a useless sister. I had tried everything to keep her safe, not allowed her to get tessare, volunteered for her when she was picked in the reaping, fed her with game I had hunted but it was all for nothing. I felt vile just remembering how many times I had left her in Gale's trusting hands, believing he would keep her safe but he didn't. He killed her. Gale Hawthorne had killed my sister, and I hated him for it.

After a few hours of crying, I eventually forced myself to get up, picking up and putting on my father's leather jacket. It instantly made me feel safe, I could still smell the faint smell of the woods. I spotted my bow and quiver sitting by the foot of the stairs and knew where I wanted to be. Putting on my boots and grabbing my bow and quiver, I walked out the door. With a quick pause I altered my course and rapped on the door of the next house. He answered momentarily.

"Will you come to the woods with me?" I asked in a rush.

"Of course," was his quick reply and, grabbing a coat, we left. I knew bringing him wasn't the best idea considering how loud he was and scared off all the animals, but I wanted him there with me. His presence made me feel… Well, it made me feel. And feeling something was better than feeling nothing at all.

Our journey to the woods was quick, we walked briskly through the regrowing meadow, being careful to not look down when we felt and heard the familiar crunch of skulls and bones. Once in the woods, I felt free. Somewhat elevated. He sat and watched as I refamiliarised myself with the woods. I could feel his stares and eventually looked up to meet his gaze. His look of awe made me blush.

"Such beauty," he whispered. My heart tinged. How I longed for his touch, I craved it so. Yet, I was constantly reminded that it was my fault he gripped the side of his seat so hard his knuckles went white, my fault he flew into angry rages, my fault he could suddenly lose his grip on reality, my fault his entire family were dead. The look in his eyes now, however, did not look as a man who blamed me for such things. They looked confused almost, but I knew deep within there was love, or at least lust. I knew what my eyes showed.

Peeta

She didn't know how beautiful she looked wandering around the forest. Finally she looked at ease and I relaxed knowing, for now, she wasn't suffering. I watched as she caressed the bark of an Oak tree, kneeled and sniffed a bush and smiled when she figured out what it was, listened to the sound of the birds and the flowing river beyond. She was amazing. God, how much I loved her. She didn't even know the full extent. I didn't realise I was gawking at her with my mouth open until she turned to me and blushed. The way her cheeks flushed pink made my heart squeeze. "Such beauty", I had whispered and had almost regretted the decision until she smiled her beautiful smile. I would never understand how I could feel such love for one person. Looking into her eyes now, I could see she was thinking hard, but there was a look I couldn't remember seeing before. Maybe once but the image was too blurred, too shiny for me to believe it was real. I looked away and saw the moss covered trunk turn to one in the first arena where I was hiding from her as she hunted to kill me. I felt fear, I felt anger. She saw me, I was in her target rage. I saw her lift the arrow and shoot it straight at me. I forced my eyes open to see her kneeing beside me, her hand was rubbing my arm soothingly, knowing this occurred regularly. Once she realised I was present, she dropped my arm and walked away, not looking back once. I hated how I did that, I knew she blamed herself for this but I didn't, I knew she didn't do this to me. He did. Snow and his Capitol minions.

Katniss

I walked back to my house alone, he had left shortly after his vision. I couldn't stand how he looked at me every time he opened his eyes after his visions. It was such a look of hatred, I could see the pure venom in his eyes and it tore me to piece. Yet, I knew I could never stay fully away. I was too selfish for that because I knew, no matter how many times he screamed I was a killer, no matter how many times he looked at me that way, I knew I loved him and I needed him more than he needed me. I needed Peeta Mellark.

So when I arrived at the Victor's Village, I walked straight to his front door, knocked and waited for his answer. Not wanting to think too much what I was about to do. He opened it cautiously, unsure of what I was about to say or do. All I needed to see was that look of love when he seen it was me and I was gone. I flung myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and loving the feeling of his arm's wrapped around my waist. He lifted me off the ground slightly and laughed. I laughed too, the first time in too long, it felt good. He set me back on my feet and looked me in the eye for a long time. I could feel his every presence, his strong chest still pressed to mine, his fingers grazing my arms raising goose bumps. I just couldn't take it anymore, standing on my tippy toes, I pulled his face to me and melted as his lips finally met mine. I went numb. The feeling of his lips was electric, such soft lips that kissed with such passion I felt we would go on fire. I put all my guilt, fear, anger and love into that kiss and he responded with such emotion I felt I would explode. When the kiss broke, we both stood there attempting to regain our breath and stared into the others' eyes. He took my hand and kissed it ever so gently and held it close to his heart.

"Stay with me tonight", I breathed.

"Always."