A/N: This fanfic is dedicated to jennibrolawrence19 for sending me an idea request. I had already considered writing a story like this but her request threw the necessary fire on it. This one will follow from the end of the Games when they arrive home, through the Victory Tour and up to the Quarter Quell. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games.

Chapter 1

Peeta POV

"One more time for the cameras?" I ask Katniss. I take her hand into mine and we disembark the train. I raise our hands into the air and the crowd goes wild. Two Victors for the first time in the history of Panem. I scan the crowd for my family and don't see them. Where could they be? I see Primrose and Mrs. Everdeen, Gale and his family beside them. Beaming that Katniss made it home. I look over to my right and look at Katniss. She's smiling so intently and gazing into their eyes. Probably into his eyes. I feel a pit growing in the depths of my stomach. I suddenly want to get out of there but cannot escape the throngs of the crowd yet.

I pull Katniss through the crowd and they begin to part for us. When she reaches her family, she throws her arms around Prim and lifts her off of the ground. Mrs. Everdeen gives me a hug and then Prim gives me a hug after Katniss releases her. We take our turns hugging everyone and then I'm left standing in front of Gale. I decide to be the bigger man and extend my arm for a handshake. Not wanting to be shown up, Gale shakes my hand and gives me the death glare.

The crowd starts to disperse and Katniss begins to come down from her natural high. I begin to walk away, feeling deflated, when she catches up to me. "Peeta, where is your family?" She asks me. I look around and then try to hide my hurt. "It's kind of obvious Katniss. They didn't come. Guess I'm not important to them." I turn on my heels and don't give her an opportunity to respond. My ego is wounded. I put my heart out on the line during the games and Katniss did what any great Victor would do, use it to their advantage. I am simply the unfortunate sidekick that survived.

I make my way towards the Victor's Village and see Haymitch stumbling along the way. I catch up to him and we walk in silence until he breaks it as we approach his house. I've never been in the Victor's Village before. The homes are mansions, sprawling. He points out his house. "That one's mine. Take whichever one you want. They're all the same kid." I decide to take one down, away from Haymitch. I walk up to the steps and take a deep breath before turning the knob.

The house is beautiful but simple. It feels like some walls and paint. There's nothing making it a home yet. I look around and choose a bedroom for myself. It's huge, has a fireplace in it. I look out the window to the empty house next to me. So sad that all of the luxurious homes are empty for possible future Victors when there are so many people in the Seam living in squalor. I bet we could a quarter of those families in these homes.

I walk around some more and then discover the bathroom. The tub is humungous. I swear my whole family could fit in it. I run the water until it's full. I strip off all of my clothes, grab a couple of towels and submerge myself in it's hot embrace. I start to cry. Everything just pours out of me. My mind flashes back to the the Reaping. How I felt when Katniss volunteered. My inner voice was just screaming at the top of it's lungs "No! Not Katniss! No!" I think I went insane in that moment. I had such a primal instinct to protect her.

When Effie called my name, I felt the ground give way beneath my feet. My life was over. It's as if the gong sounded then and Cato ran me through. There was no way in hell I could ever kill Katniss. As if District 12 was ever lucky enough to win anyway. I stood on that stage, having flashbacks of our brief time in the rain with the bread. What I would give to rewind that moment and have said something to her. I was such a fucking chicken shit. I had an incredible gift with words and yet I could never utter one single word in her presence. Pathetic.

I lower myself further into the water and let my head sink below the surface. I should have eaten those berries. It would have been better than losing her, after feeling like I connected with her. I open my eyes and I see her face clear as day in front of me. Her braid falling down and the tip of it entering the water. Then I hear her voice and feel her hands on my chest pulling me upward. "Peeta!"

I break the surface and yell. "Katniss! What the hell are you doing here?" Katniss Everdeen in my bathroom while I'm naked in the tub. Just drown me. Katniss doesn't put two and two together yet. "I came to see how you were and found you in the water. What the hell were you trying to do?" She's bitter with me. "Nothing. Just trying to relax. It's been rough. It's a lot to take in." I respond.

She nods her head. "I know what you mean." She says then continues. "Peeta, I'm sorry about what I said when we spoke and for what Haymitch said. The truth is, I'm confused. I don't know what I'm feeling. I did what I had to do to survive and at first I thought that that's what you were doing too. It took me a while to figure out that you meant it. I'm not sure yet how much of it I meant yet. This is all so new to me and there are...complications too."

I nod my head. "Gale. I get it. I knew he was in the picture." I admit. Katniss brings her face closer to mine and puts her hands on the side of each cheek. She presses her lips to mine and holds them there. Then she releases me and opens her eyes to stare into mine. "I'll see you around Peeta." She's gone before I can say good-bye.

I slink back down into the water. I wish I just ate the fucking berries.

A/N: I know it's short but I just wanted to get it going. Read and review!