This story is pre-epilogue, although it's not exactly what you guess happens in the book. Katniss and Peeta's pursuit of living normally is being threaten again, and now they're being threaten with loved ones they thought were gone. Sorry for the wait, ( the readers who've read BH). The 1st chap is always the hardest for me. Happy Reading!

Chapter 1

I can't believe I'm doing this.

I've always told myself I wasn't going to get married or have children, but here I am, walking to the Justice Building with my hand in Peeta's. I want to marry him; I love Peeta, but it's funny how I went completely against my younger self's ideas. I'm very different from the girl four years ago, before that Reaping Day.

Peeta and I walk ahead of everyone into town. The only people accompanying us are Haymitch, Greasy Sae, her family, and Thom. I can feel the sweat on my hands. I guess I'm nervous, but there's nothing that will change my mind now. We have this mutual love of protecting each other. And this not just the love I have of people to protect them, but he makes me happy. He cheers me up when despairing memories uphold my mind, and when nightmares wake me up in the middle of the night.

We reach the steps of the Justice Building. I slightly shiver from the morning fall wind on my arms. I'm only wearing a shawl over my dress, and so Peeta doesn't hesitate to notice and hold me close to him.

"You ready to do this?" he asks.

"Absolutely ready," I answer.

He smiles one of those smiles that lights up a room, and then takes my hand again. We walk into the building, the others trailing along.

A smiling, bellied man leads us to the front of a court room. Then begins the District 12 process of a legal marriage . The minister is speaking, but during the whole thing, I can't draw my eyes away from Peeta's.

Put before us are the forms to register our marriage. The minister hands me a pen. "Sign here to officially bind you in marriage with this man," he says. I take the pen in my moist hand and sign my name on a line. I give back to him and he gives it Peeta. "Sign here to officially bind you in marriage with this woman." When he finishes he smiles at me, because now we are legitimately married.

"I understand that there is something you wanted to add to the ceremony?" says the minister to Peeta. I look to at him questionably, not expecting any kind of special tradition taking place at the signing. That's usually what the toasting is for.

"There is," Peeta says. He reaches into the pocket of his jacket and pulls out a silver ring with the pearl he gave me as its stone.

Rings aren't popularly used in District 12 weddings, but I smile at how much this little object means to me now. I watch as he puts it on my finger and it feels so alien to me, but wonderful. The minister pronounces us married, and Peeta doesn't hesitate to kiss me. I put my arms around his neck and press our lips together for several seconds till we remember we have an audience.

We all walk outside into the cold, and receive congratulations and hugs. We had planned for the rest of the ceremony to take place at Peeta's house. The night before, the two of us spent baking our cake and the bread for the toasting. He did most of it, but I helped in what Peeta allowed me to do, considering I'm not much of a cook as he is.

"It's freezing out here," complains Haymitch. "You guys can further boast about your happiness indoors."

"Alright Haymitch," Peeta says teasingly. He pats him on the back and then he holds onto my hand and we walk back to our home. Because I live there now, don't I?

Greasy Sae is joking around about her little grand-daughter getting married, which makes the little girl scowls, finding it absurd because she doesn't like boys. Thom, Peeta, and I are laughing when I spot someone sitting on the steps of my house next door. I stop laughing and find I can tell who it is from this distance.

She stands up and walks toward us. Her hair has turned lighter with grey, and her pale complexion brightens her blue eyes. Prim's eyes.

"Mother," I say surprised.

"Katniss dear, look how much you've grown," she says with a sad smile.

"Well, that's what happens when you haven't seen your daughter in three years," I utter plainly.

Her smile turns in a limp line. "I came to see you at your wedding, but my train arrived late. I just decided to wait here till you came back."

"You missed the signing, but we're having the ceremony in our home," says Peeta. He just didn't want to give me the time to come up with a remark. "We like it you'd stay with us."

"Why thank you, Peeta. Congratulations to you both," she says. Peeta goes to unlock the door and I'm left to walk with my mother. "We have lots to catch up on, don't we?" she says.

I'm at Peeta's side the whole time, because I just don't feel up to having alone time with my mother. She leads the traditional song while Peeta and I enter through the threshold of the home. She smiles tenderly when we have the toasting, and later on, while she talks to Greasy Sae of my childhood, she seems to be beaming.

Hands touch my shoulder, and I turn my head to see Peeta behind me. He leans toward my ear and speaks softly. "You know," he says. "She's the only family you have left, and I don't think she would've come if she didn't want to make amends with you."

"You're my family now," I say.

He kisses my head. "But she's your mother."

I take a deep breath and nod my head. "I'll try…" He turns his head and kisses me gently. We walk back to group, and join in conversation. At first the least I do is to hold my resentment and not make any bad remarks. I add a small laugh or two. My mother gains a pleased expression when eventually she sees I'm not acting to like this. I guess I'm not acting.

"Well, good night to you both," says Haymitch. "I'll just take this bottle here, for the memory. You guys don't have too much fun, alright?"

"Haymitch," I say threateningly.

Haymitch only laughs at me, and walks down the steps and to his house. He waves at us and Peeta is the only one who waves back. Peeta and I enter the house. My mother has just finished helping us clean in the kitchen.

"I should head to the house," she says. Mother wanted to stay in my home next door. I talk to her about how she'll be alone, but she insisted.

"I'll walk with you," I say.

"I'll be alright."

"No, I want to." She nods and I pick up her bag. Peeta says he'll stay to finish cleaning up. He gives me an encouraging smile before my mother and I walk outside. When we reach the house, she takes the bag from me and then puts her hand in it.

"I have something to give you," she says. She takes out an envelope and hands it to me. "It's a letter from Hazelle, the children, and one from Gale."

"From Gale?" She only nods. She hands me the letters, kisses me on the forehead, and then goes into the house. I walk back, letter in hand, wondering about what this sudden attempt of communication from him means.

I sit on the couch in our home with the letters in hand. I'm deciding whether or not to open them now. I hear Peeta come from kitchen. "What's that?" he asks.

"It's a letter. From Hazelle…" I decide to stop there because whatever it is, it could bring my happy moment and good mood to a halt. And what if it's not bad? Just because I haven't spoken to him in years, doesn't mean the first form of contact from him will be bad news. I think it is best to just wait to read it tomorrow. "I'll read it in the morning. Let's go to bed," I say.

Peeta dismisses it and holds out a hand. "Right this way Mrs. Mellark," he says in a far too formal tone. Grinning, I take his hand and we go up stairs.

I realize what tonight means. As we both get ready for bed, I'm getting nervous. It's normal right? Peeta and I of course sleep together all the time, but I've never let myself become so intimate. There have been times when I experience the familiar warmth that I felt on the beach in the Quarter Quell, but I'm never let myself get any father than that. It's my fault. I'm wary of how vulnerable a person becomes, and let's face it. I'm not the lovely, seductive, passasionate kind of girl. But I do know I love Peeta.

I splash water on my face in the bathroom and brush my hair out of its waves my braid causes. I look in the mirror and I see the scars on my arms and the faint burn marks. How can I call myself beautiful? With a past as ugly as mine, it's hard to say I'm one to be called comely or romantic. No, these scars are part of me, and I wouldn't be here thinking about this if Peeta didn't love me like I do him.

I take a deep breath and continue to gaze at myself in the mirror, encouraging some needed confidence. In the reflection, I see the wall behind me with the small blurry bathroom window. It darkens, like something is blocking it from the outside.

Someone is out there.

I watch the dark form change shape, there's a click, and then the all too familiar sound of a gun firing instantly makes me drop to the ground.

It fires three times, but I can't feel any bullets go through me as I fall to the ground and put my hands over my head. I feel the shards of the mirror fall all over me and the sting of them on my skin. I hear the rustling of the gunman outside from the broken window. I get on my feet, ignoring the broken pieces on the ground, and look to the window.

Within the second, Peeta darts through the door to me in his pajama pants and a t-shirt. He doesn't look harmed. "Katniss, are you alright? Did you get hit?" He takes my arms and holds them to the light. "Oh no, you're bleeding."

"Otherwise, I'm okay," I say.

"No, you're bleeding a lot. We have to get you help now."

"Wait, I saw them. They're outside, but they're getting away…"

"You're losing a lot of blood, and right now we just need to stop the bleeding before you go into shock."

Before I say anymore, he goes to cabinet and takes out the first-aid kit and begins taking things out. I begin to notice the stream of blood beginning to form on the floor, and the streaks on my arms. I begin to worry that this scene of blood everywhere and the gun fire will cause one of his flashbacks, but it would have started by now. He's still in control of himself.

I sit on the side of the tub, and Peeta quickly tends to my legs and arms, pulling out shards, washing, and bandaging. "You'll be alright," he says. I notice he looks fearful, but how can he not when suddenly a gun goes off and you find you new wife covered in blood?

I begin to feel slightly light-headed, and the bathroom begins to spin. The next thing I feel is Peeta's arms under me, carrying me to bed. I lay down, while Peeta stays at my side. At one point my mother is there and she's getting me to drink water, and then she works on the wounds more. I'm given something for the pain. I didn't really notice it until she mentioned how much I will be hurting.

The following morning, I wake up and find Peeta sitting up in bed, fully dressed, but asleep. I lift carefully up to a sitting position. My hands hurt like hell.

"Peeta?"

He opens his eyes hazily and then he sees me and sits up. "You're awake. How are you feeling?"

"A little pain, but I'm fine," I reply.

"I'm sorry…"he begins. The look on his face becomes solemn. "I wasn't there to see him. I should've protected you."

"You don't have to be sorry for anything. I was the one who decided to spend a long time alone in there." I look back to the doorway of the bathroom, broken shards everywhere. "I just don't understand where this guy came from."

"We don't know. Nobody could find this guy after," Peeta says tensly.

I was almost killed. Somebody wants me dead. Whoever this guy is or whoever he may be working for: they want me gone. Why? The reasons are endless. I've been in the Hunger Games, I killed people, and I was the Mockingjay in the Rebellion. But I thought I was relatively safe now. I thought I didn't have to worry about the lives of people I care about or my life being in jeopardy. I guess I was wrong.

I pull out my hands from under the blanket. My arms don't look like they're bleeding that much. "This is not how I pictured my wedding night to be like," I say in bad attempt for a joke. Peeta puts an arm around me. The door opens, and in comes Haymitch.

"How are you feeling Sweetheart?"

"I'm alright," I say.

"It looks like somebody doesn't like you," he says.

"Right, and who is this? I don't understand that after three years somebody comes out nowhere and decides that I should be put out."

"It's a mystery alright, but this has happened before."

"What do you mean?" asks Peeta.

"I got call from Plutarch. He says that earlier last night, there was an attempted murder on Beetee."

"Beetee? Is he alright?"

"He got hit in the side. He was sent to the hospital, but he'll live."

"Is it coincidence that he and Katniss are both Hunger Game victors?" says Peeta. I look to Peeta and then Haymitch for confirmation. "It has to be a group behind this, or else they wouldn't have done it the same night."

"Do you think they're going after all the victors?" I ask. It's possible that the gunman was trying to take Peeta and me out. How easy for them to have two victors living under the same roof, but he didn't really take advantage of that when he decided to go for us one at a time.

"We don't know for sure, but that's what Paylor assumes," Haymitch says steadily. "And so she called today, saying that all the victors are going to be transported to an unnamed location for some sort of meeting and protection."

"Where?" I ask.

"I can't tell you that until we're out of District 12," he says.

"Of course," I say tiredly.

"When do they plan on taking us?" asks Peeta.

"Tonight," Haymitch replies.

"So soon?"

"Hey, well if there's a hit man after victors, we would have to get the victims out of here before the guy decides to give a second try."

I feel slightly agitated with the whole situation. We have to leave 12, because are lives are being threatened for the hundredth time. I should really be used to this by now.

"Where's my mother?" I ask.

"She's downstairs resting," answers Peeta. "She didn't want to leave while you were still injured."

"I have to go talk to her," I say.

"You won't be moving out of that bed anytime soon," says Haymitch. "How about we just go get her?"

"I'll go. Haymitch, I'll lead you out." Peeta gets up and they both walk out the door. My mouth is dry and I notice the glass of water on top of the bedside table. I carefully move both of my bandaged hands around and hold it to my lips. I shakily drink it, and my hands begin to hurt.

"Katniss, how are you feeling?" My mother sits on the side of the bed and takes the glass.

"Well enough," I reply. "Did you hear the gun shots last night?"

"I did," she says steadily. "I was so frightened. I dressed and ran over here as fast as I could…" Her expression becomes pained. "I feared the worst when I saw you, but it's a good thing Peeta managed to stop some of bleeding or you would have need extreme medical attention. And there's no hospital around here."

"Just the medicine factory and my mother…" I say. She moves a strand of hair behind my ear, and then examines my hands and arms. "There's something else I need to tell you," I say.

She turns her head up at me. "What is it?"

"I don't know if they told you, but Paylor called Haymitch and it turns out the same thing happened to Beetee yesterday. Somebody tried to kill him, but he survived. She told him that the victors will be transported somewhere for a meeting. That we'll be safe there."

"Where?"

"I don't know. They won't tell us yet, but we're leaving on a hovercraft tonight-"

"Tonight?" She looks dismally at me and frowns. "Three years without seeing you and now you'll be leaving again." She tends to my hands again. "It is for your protection, and I want you to be safe…" She continues to occupy herself with the bandages, but then her eyes begin to tear. "I just don't want to lose you."

"I'll be fine," I say in consolation. "I'll try to contact you when I can."

"I do hope so," she says.

"I will," I reply. I can't help have the feeling that I have just told a lie. I can't know for sure that I will be alright.

I spend the whole time between morning and noon in bed. I'm finally allowed up to help Peeta pack some stuff, although we do not know how long we'll be staying there. In the evening, my mother's train departs back to District 4. Peeta, Greasy Sae, and I walk with her to the station. I feel sad to see her go so soon, when I just barely put away by bad feelings against her. I still have some, but I tried really hard to forget about them these past few days.

We walk to the station and wait for my mother's train. I hold onto Peeta's hand, feeling bad about how drastically everything turned from happy to fearful and anxious. Dread seeps in when the train arrives, because she'll have to go. My mother picks up her bag and turns to us for a good-bye. She speaks to Greasy Sae, who she has known since I was little. Sae encourages her not to worry and she gives her a bouquet of herbs of plants found here in District 12.

My mother turns to Peeta and me.

"I've always thought of you as a wonderful young man, and I'll know you'll take care of Katniss," she says and her mouth turns into a lopsided smile. "Take care, Peeta."

He smiles slightly and he nods. My mother looks to me. "I hope we'll keep in touch. These past years have been empty without both of my daughters." I know she means Prim and that she must have felt that same emptiness I have knowing Prim is gone. I see her every time I look at the primroses in the front yard.

She hugs me for a short moment, and then gets her bag and looks to Peeta and me a final time. "I love you both and I'll hope you'll be careful, whatever you're doing."

"Of course. Have a safe trip back," says Peeta. My mother enters the train and then a minute later we watch it leave the station.

"We better get going then," says Peeta.

"Don't want to miss your flight," says Greasy Sae. "I wish you both well, and hope to see you two soon, alright?"

"Of course. We can't go very long without missing your cooking," I say.

She smiles at both of us. "Take care now."

Peeta and I say good-bye, and then we walk to the meadow outside of the fence. It's getting dark, and I notice not a lot of people are out as we walk through town. They turn away, and show no curiosity of my bandaged hands. They probably already heard and decided to keep inside.

Walking through the woods, I find myself habitually trying to stay quiet unlike Peeta who makes his way to step on every noisy stick. But I shouldn't be worrying about it. It doesn't matter anymore. I could be leaving this place for good, who knows?

"Well there it is," Peeta says from behind me. I look ahead to the clearing and notice the large hovercraft with its humming noise, probably driving away all animals in radius. Haymitch stands at the entrance ladder with a man in a soldier uniform. There are no more Peacekeepers, but we still have our own military force just in case. They're also the new law enforcement, but they're much less strict than Peacekeepers.

"Glad you made it," Haymitch says. "This is Soldier Cayes. He'll be our peppy escort," he mumbles so he doesn't hear.

"This way," says Cayes in monotone.

Peeta and I step up the ladder before Haymitch. Cayes goes last and retracts the ladder for take off.

"Doesn't this bring back memories?" Haymitch mumbles..

"Sure does…" I say in monotone. I look to Peeta hoping none of this causing any potential flashbacks. "How are you doing?" I asked in a softer voice.

"I'm fine, don't worry," he answers. "How are you doing?"

"Fine. I'm alright," I say steadily. He takes my hand and the three of us sit in seats farthest away from the soldiers and the cockpit. I look out a window, the hovercrafts hums louder, and we begin to lift into the air. I watch outside to the forest until we're too high to only see a mass of green.

Peeta's hand is tense on mine, but when I look up, he shakes his head to dismiss it. Cayes sits next to another soldier in seats close to the pit. I look to Haymitch and speak softer than I usually would. "Where are we going, Haymitch?"

"I think you can figure it out. You're smart."

The first thought that comes to mind is somewhere backed up with so many bad memories I get a headache just thinking about it. I'm hoping pretty much anyplace but there. There more I think about the more certain I am about it, but I have to ask. "District 13?"

"I knew you were smart."

I hope this didn't seemed rushed. Things make more sense in the next chapter, which I will be uploading soon!

-cheezebuns