Mayor Undersee presents them, "Let present the Victors of the 74th Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen & Peeta Mellark."

Peeta smiles and waves, as he looks out to the crowd in District 12's city centre. He knew that they were all made to come, but they actually looked excited that the finally had another victor after 24yrs. It felt great to have District 12 behind them. He looked out to the crowd, looking for his family. He finally found them. They all looked happy to see him except for his mother. He wasn't surprised, it was the same woman who had put her faith in Katniss over her own son. He never knew what he had done wrong for her to hate him so much, but the moment she chose to put faith in Katniss (even he planned to let her win), it hurt him more than any of her physical & mental abuse combine. It showed him what she really thought of him.

"Thank you to you both for being the first people to win for District 12 in 24 years. You have made all of us proud."

He looked over at Katniss, and grabbed her hand. Everyone continued to cheer for them. What they didn't realize was it wasn't real, it was all an act that Katniss & Haymitch had thought up. Before they arrived home, Katniss has told him that everything done was to get them both home, that there were no feelings there. It was in that moment that his heart had broken into a million pieces. On one hand he was thankful he was alive, but on the other hand he loved her, and had hoped that all his dreams were finally coming true. That him going into the Games, and winning with her was for a reason.

…..

"Peeta," his father called out to him, as he walked towards him.

Peeta ran towards him, embracing him. It felt like it had been forever since the day they said goodbye in the city hall. "I missed you so much," he whispered. Of all the family members he had always been the closes to his father, as they were quite similar. They were kind, and talented when it came to decorating the deserts in the bakery.

"I missed you too," he said as they moved apart.

"Where's mom, Rye & Heath?" he thought they would come to see him. It had been a few weeks since they thought they were going to say good-bye forever.

Looking away from his son, unable to look him in the eyes, "They headed back to the Bakery…."

"Are they grabbing their stuff?" Today they would be moving to Victor's Village.

"That's why I came over, we're not moving to Victor's Village."

Peeta's smile dropped off his face, "I don't understand." We're they really going to let their 16yr old move there all by himself.

"With us having to get up early mornings to start the bread, it just doesn't make sense moving."

He wanted to say, 'You mean mom doesn't think it's a good idea,' but he didn't. Peeta never spoke up about the way he was treated. He took all the abuse, and never said a thing. He always just put a smile on his face, and chose to be better person then her. He forced himself instead to say, "I understand. I'll come grab my stuff tomorrow when I come to work."

"Peeta, I really am glad your home," Mr Mellark said, grabbing his boy, bringing him back into his embrace.

…..

After walking around District 12 for hours, trying avoid going to Victor's Village as long as possible, Peeta finally walked down the road that took him to his new home. Across the street he noticed Prim on the deck, playing with the cat Katniss told him about. She looked happy. He suddenly wished he was part of their family. They may have been poor, but they took care of one another through the good and the bad. And they love one another unconditionally. He had never really known that. His dad may love him, but he never stood up to his mother.

Prim looked up, and waved at him, "Hey Peeta."

"Hey Prim." He walks up to her step, "What's your cat's name?"

"Buttercup. Are you looking for Katniss?"

"No…" he frowned. He knew she wouldn't want to see him. "I just wanted to meet Katniss sister."

She smiled, "Thank you for looking out for her, for helping her come home."

"She didn't need me to help her win. Your sister always had it in her."

"Yes, but you helped try to steer the Careers away from her. And you kept them from trying to go after her in the tree giving her time to have Rue help her. You're a wonderful man, Peeta. I really hope Katniss knows what she's got."

Peeta just smiled. Realizing that Katniss hadn't let her family in on the charade. "Well, I guess I should get going. I'll be seeing you around Prim."

"Bye Peeta."

…..

Peeta should have been excited to look around his new home, but after everything that has occurred today, he felt like nobody cared for him. Katniss told him she just wanted to forget everything, to him that meant him, his family abandon him, and his best friend Delly never stayed to see him.

He slowly walked upstairs, and took a deep breath. Was this his life now? Was he bound to be alone forever?

He chose the room at the end of the hall that faced Katniss's house. She may not want anything to do with him, but he still wanted to make sure she was alright.

He slowly laid down, and face the window, and started to cry. This wasn't how he imagined how his life was going to be when he got back to District 12.