The wrinkles in my blankets remind me of sand dunes formed by tossing and turning bodies. Now, half my bed is empty. I still see her sometimes as that girl starving, hollow cheeks and eyes. Needing me without knowing. She's been in her refuge of the woods for a while as the sun is almost half in the sky. Buttercup curls at my feet, the only part of Prim left for Katniss, and her for Buttercup. For me it's time to start my day.

Days seem empty vacuous, purposeless for us now. She was that hollow girl when I arrived here, hair disheveled, eyes encircled in darkness. A glimpse of what once was appeared when she saw me there planting the primroses. She showered and joined me, not actually working but watching me. The first time her skin had met sunshine in so long. After a while she crawled up to me and buried her head in my neck, and stroked my arms. I held her as she wept. She pulled away and cupped my face in her hands. "You told me always, you'd always stay with me." I grabbed her by the nape of the neck and kissed her, pulled her close to me. She melted at my touch and sighed throwing her arms around my neck. I picked her up and carried her upstairs into her bedroom. I gently laid her down on the bed her hands racing under my shirt pulling it over my head. I removed hers and hovered above her gazing into those eyes that lived. I planted my lips upon hers again. Moved my hands over her, removing her bra and massaging her breasts. I kissed her down her neck to her breast I cupped with one hand and suckled her nipple as though they would nourish me. I felt her quiver beneath me and heard he sigh my name. I reached my hand underneath her pants and stroked her cunt. Finding the hole penetrating her with my fingers in and out causing her to wet around me. Her breath quickened desperately, she removed what remained of her clothing and took my pants off in return fluidly taking my cock in her hands and stroking. I was already hard full of blood pumping. "Make love to me!" she plead

I obliged situating myself above her balancing on one arm moving one underneath her back holding her, and I entered her fully. Looking into her eyes as in sync we rocked until we were both completed. I lay beside her and she put her head on my chest. I asked "You love me… real or not real?" she told me "real".

After that we began sleeping together every night. We've been taking things more slowly after that first expression of passion. Some nights we just stroke each other, some nights we just sleep. The nightmares have become more tolerable and life is slowly becoming a life. And today that is something I must go on with.

My door swings open wildly. "Hey! Peeta!" it was Haymitch who was to my surprise up before mid afternoon.

"What?" I hollered down

"Gi'down here we gotta talk where's the lady?"

I trot down the stairs

"Outside, what's going on."

"Jesus, shave much?"

Since the war had ended I began to grow out my facial hair, and in fact my hair in general. My youth prevents me from growing too much of a beard but, my golden curls now sit about jaw length.

"You should talk, what brings you here this fine day?"

"Effie Trinket just called. The Capitol is holding a reception for the Victors to celebrate their heroism both before and after the war."

"Shit. Katniss won't like that." I replied.

"Nope and she and the prep teams will be here tomorrow we'll all be doing an interview with Caesar Flickerman about how life has been going since the wars end."

"Okay…"

I'm sure Haymitch will be happy to see Effie after he worked so hard to save her, but I don't know who they will be sending for me, my prep team is dead. I'm not sure I have the heart for different clueless Capitol pop-tarts chattering as they primp and preen me. Katniss will be pleased least of all. She doesn't have a lot left to give to them. We've been working the past few months at building both of us back up, the only thing we have to give is to each other.

"Here's the kicker…" Haymitch continues "They would like us to be delegates during the first meeting of the new government for our input."

The last part was in air quotes.

"Let me break the news to Katniss. This will be hard for her."

He nods and sits down at the kitchen table.

"Got any food in this place?" he laughs

The question is rhetorical of course there is food, I spend so much time now baking, and Katniss brings in bread. The house is a regular Hob these days.

I bring him some danishes and start some coffee when Katniss comes through the door. She drops her game bag beside.

"What are you doing up?"

"I came to talk to your friend here" He nods in my direction.

"Oh."

She plops down and grabs a danish

Her gray Seam eyes are gleaming as the light filtering through the windows kisses her face more gently than I could.

"Katniss, it appears as though the Capitol is not done with us yet." Haymitch begins

Hate flicker in her eyes which shift to meet mine as though asking what to do. I move to sit beside her and wrap an arm around her shoulders, and she places a hand on my knee. Trembling.

"Tomorrow Effie and the prep teams are coming and we'll be doing an interview with Caesar. Peeta and you will do your interview together so you'll have him to talk for you. Then, in two weeks the Capitol is holding a gala for the victors, part of which we are to join the first meeting of the government as delegates."

The trembling hand now grips me.

"Fine" she says. "We'll manage it."

"Wanna have a drink?" He says crassly

He finishes his danish and we forget about the coffee. He stands pushes his chair in as he leaves he says: "Try not to give me pneumonia when you wake me up tomorrow sweet heart."

He shuts the door behind him. Katniss sits staring at her hands. Then almost girlishly she says.

"Peeta, you will be there. I can only do this with you."

My heart skips a beat when she says this, perplexed as well by her concession of strength admitting to her limitations and the fact that she needs me. It shows growth. Her hungry eyes then look up at me. I turn her around in her chair and put a hand on each of her shoulders.

"Always" I say. I then pull her into me embrace her deeply.

"We have eachother. We're not lone victors, we are one victor. Survivors twice of the arena. Survivors of war, trauma, hijacking. From now on the odds will always be in our favor."

We separate she smiles.

"Should we go for a walk?"

I nod my head

"Can I shower first?"

She grins playfully

"Need company?"

I lead her upstairs where we unburden ourselves of our clothing. I turn on the water and we step into the shower letting the hot water rush over us. She pushes herself against me. I push he back slightly cupping her face in my hands.

"The only time we've made love was during time of distress. I don't to take advantage of you. I want you so bad, I don't want you feel taken advantage of."

Her eyes flicker with anger first, then they soften.

"I need to be close to you. You drive the dark away. I need you, you can't take advantage of me I'm yours. I take it slow for you. After all you've been through with thinking I'm a mutt and all."

I find myself smiling.

"Good, I'm devoted to you."

I push her back against the wall and kiss her madly. I take each of her buttocks in my hand and lift her. I slam myself into her with my head buried in her neck. Over and over again, in and out in and out she moans with each undulation. Something takes over me she said she's mine. I put one hand around her throat and she wraps her legs tighter around me.

"Harder" she whispers

I lower her from against the wall and face her away from me. I take one of her firm breasts my hand and take her from behind with the other hand I lean her forward then move down to stroke her clit until she screams and I come. I hold her there for a moment still inside her. The I take a breath.

"I love you."

We wash each other. Turn off the water and step out of the shower. She smiles at me and I feel my loins quiver again.

We find fresh clothing and walk around the town, talking about the progress that has been made in rebuilding. The happiness we feel about the mines being closed. I ask her what she thinks about opening up the bakery again. This seems to make her happy. Hand in hand we walk back home as the sun was setting. The TV flickered in the windows of Haymitch's home. Once through the threshold Katniss pushes me against the wall. Unsteady on my artificial leg I have to catch myself. She kneels in front of me and opens my pants, takes me out and begins to suck on the head of my prick. My eyes roll in my head and I know I can't take it. This won't satisfy me. I grab her hair and pull her up to me. Once again overcome with lust and madness.

"Take off your clothes."

She obliges I push her into the living room and onto a plush sofa. Without hesitation I'm once again inside of her on top of her, panting, groaning, her clawing my back desperately. It's more than I can bear. I don't think either of us had plans of sleeping that night, knowing of the upcoming interview, the trip to the Capitol. That's how the night went for us. Making love over and over until we were too exhausted to dream.