"They're back," says Haymitch coming to inform Finnick and I. I want to ask him more, but anticipating my unasked question he hurriedly adds, "that's all I know."
Finnick and I walk uncoordinated to the hospital, neither quite sure what to think, or how to react. But Peeta is here now. Safe. Well, as safe as he can get, he's away from Snow, that's what matters.
We make it to the hospital and a gurney is rolled past us with a shaven Johanna Mason — I'll ask about her later. Then there's a shriek from the other side of the room. "Finnick!" screams a woman, who could only be Annie Cresta. They run to and embrace each other. A pang of jealousy hits me, not for either one in particular, but for their certainty. No one seeing them could doubt their love.
As Haymitch and I walk around to another section of the hospital I'm anxious, I'm finding myself thinking about the beach, thinking about the kiss in the Quarter Quell…a moment I haven't dared think about since that moment. Leaving Peeta at that tree was quite possibly the worst mistake of my life.
We come around a corner to find Gale, "he's in there."
There will be time to talk to and thank Gale later, but for now, all I want is to see Peeta. I haven't seen him in weeks, besides his appearances on Caesar's show and that has been absolute torture. Sitting on the bed facing away from me, is the blond haired bakers boy I would know anywhere.
"Peeta," I squeak out. His head perks up. "Peeta," I say tears now falling profusely from my eyes. He spins around shoving a doctor over in the process, crosses the distance between us in seconds and throws his arms around me, pulls me close, and kisses me. So this is what it feels like, I'd almost forgotten the warmth that accompanies everything that he does, forgotten how it felt to have him this close to me.
I've no idea how long this kiss drags on, but eventually Haymitch clears his throat. Peeta pulls back, kisses my forehead and walks around me. I know what he's doing before Haymitch does and Haymitch isn't fast enough to stop Peeta's punch.
"Ow," Haymitch says rubbing his jaw. "And I thought her hello was bad."
"The rebellion?!" Peeta shouts. "Why didn't you tell us?"
"I couldn't," Haymitch shrugs, "Snow was watching you. It was too risky."
"You could have said something," Peeta fumes.
"Okay," says Haymitch. "You're mad, I get that, but we just couldn't tell you Peeta."
"Was I just a piece in your Games?" Peeta shakes his head furiously. Breathes heavily and then looks back at Haymitch. "You got her out. I thank you — at least — for that."
"See?" Haymitch says to me. "I kept my promise."
"Not to both of us," says Peeta.
"No," says Haymitch slowly. "When you promise two different people that you'll save the other one — obviously — you've gotta be lying to one of them."
"Whatever," says Peeta. Turning back to me, he pulls me back into his arms. "I didn't know if I'd ever see you again."
"I didn't think—" I realize I'm crying. "Didn't think I'd see you again!" I'm crying so hysterically that Peeta just holds onto me tightly.
"Peeta," says a doctor. "We need to do a couple tests."
Peeta nods. He then looks down at me. "Stay with me?" he says with a smile.
"Always," I say smiling back.
Always.