"Greetings to the final contestants of the seventy-fourth Hunger Games. The earlier revision has been revoked. Closer examination of the rule book has disclosed that only one winner may be allowed." He says. "Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favour."

I hand Peeta a handful of the berries, clutching my own. Leaning forward I whisper as quietly as I can, "Don't swallow."
I hold the berries out for a moment for the audience to see and Peeta does the same. And then I tip my head back and drop the berries into my mouth, hoping desperately that my plan will work. Peeta copies my movements.
But nothing happens. My eyes flicker up to the sky, then to Peeta.
There is nothing for it. Gale and the Baker had promised to look after my family. And since Peeta will win he will have more then enough for them.
I swallow my mouthful. Shock is evident on Peeta's face, but not enough, like he thinks I only pretended to swallow.
We lock gaze, and then I keel over sideways
Katniss Everdeen is dead.

Katniss Everdeen is dead!
The girl he loved. Gone.
Peeta spewed out the berries and leaped to her side, his fingers grappling at her neck and wrist, hoping desperately for a pulse.
Claudius Templesmith announces that Peeta Mellark is the victor of the seventy-fourth Huuger Games, but all that means to Peeta at the moment is that Katniss is truly dead.
A hovercraft materializes to collect Peeta but he stays leaning over Katniss, his arms locked around her. A man descends and pulls at his arm, but Peeta holds tight. After several more futile tugs another man descends and together they pull Peeta – still clutching Katniss – to the ladder.
On board the hovercraft several others help to prize Peeta's hands off the girl.
Peeta gets laid out on a doctors' table and knock out so his leg can be fixed.

When Peeta woke he was in an unfamiliar white room. He tried to sit up but something was holding his torso and legs down. He shouted and after a moment a door opened to his left. One of the avoxes walked in carrying a tray of food, behind him was Haymitch.
The pressure holding him released and he sat up quickly to receive the food. After placing the tray down on Peeta's leap the avox left but Haymitch remind.
Peeta inspected the food, a bowl of broth, a glass of water and a small serving of applesauce. It seemed a meagre amount but as he ate he filled quickly and realised his stomach must've shrunk from lack of food In which case, how long had he been asleep?
"How are you feeling?" Haymitch asked.
Peeta was thankful his mouth was full so he could postpone answering.
How did he feel?
Bad. Why didn't he eat those stupid berries. He had told Katniss that he wanted to defy the Capitol, show them that he wasn't just a piece of their game. That had been the perfect chance. A double suicide, the last two alive in the arena. They wouldn't have their victor. It was by defiance and choice. But there had been an inkling of hope inside him that the Gamemakers would rescue them to have a winner as he had assumed to be Katniss's plan. And then she had swallowed them…
Peeta grunted, knowing Haymitch was waiting for a reply.
"And how is your leg?"
That's right. He'd been bleeding. He was going to bleed to death so that Katniss would win... but she wouldn't let him. She had taken his place. Now Peeta had to deal with the consequences.
Peeta pulled the covers off his body and examined his legs. Although really, only one was his, the other… the leg that had been so badly injured, now plastic and metal, prosthetic.
Peeta stood up and slid off the bed, taking halting steps, limping slightly, getting used to his leg.
"Fine." Peeta grunted again.
"Good. Well, I'll leave you alone for a while; I suggest you get some sleep before your prep team comes to dress you up."

Peeta paid little attention as his prep team babbled about the recent Games. At one point they attempted to consol him on his loss, but none of them really understood.
Portia had him dressed in black in honour of Katniss, but with a red silk scarf around his neck, another memorial for the girl who was on fire.

The anthem was so loud, even backstage were Peeta waited.
Caesar Flickerman greeted the audience, which broke into applause. His prep team was presented, then Effie. Portia was next, receiving a large cheer, though no doubt less then the one Cinna would've gotten if Katniss had won, she was the flame, Peeta was simply there.
The Crowd greeted Haymitch with a round of stomping that seemed to go one forever.
Finally it was Peeta's turn, he just wanted to get this over with, to be able to curl up and not think about anything.
The crowd went hysteric. He was their Victor, with all the right words and a love so strong he'd done everything he could to protect her, even willing to bleed to death.
Peeta sat stock still in the Victor's chair, no longer caring about the Capitol. He stared at the screens but hardly watched, he'd lived through it, why did he need to see it again?
At the beginning was a detailed section of the blood bath, and then there were mostly just bits of the others including every single death. Also shown was everything he'd done to keep her alive. Misleading the Careers then waiting all night under the tree that Katniss had dropped the Tracker Jackers from. Fighting with Cato so Katniss could run, and then whispering her name over and over again as he lay in the mud surly dying.
Only a few bits really pulled any emotion from Peeta, the first was the little girls death, where Katniss sang. Peeta could feel the eyes of many viewers on him and he felt himself about to cry, knowing he could never hear her sing again.
Another time was just after that where Katniss shouted out his name when she found out they could both survive.
The recap end with Peeta clutching to Katniss and he noticed that his eyes were streaming tears and he'd been whispering to her over and over again. "Don't go Katniss, don't go, stay. Stay with me. Stay with me. Please. Please. Please… Think of you sister. Your mother. Me. We need you Katniss. We need you. Please…."
The anthem played again and President Snow came on to present the crown to Peeta. And then it was over. At least that part was. Caeser Flickerman bid the audience goodnight and reminded them about the final interview tomorrow night.