Peeta's POV:
"Katniss, no! Katniss!" I screamed, trying desperately to bring her back. But it was too late. Katniss was gone, and every hope I had of having a future with her was gone as well. I collapsed next to her body, every breath I took leaving an unbearable ache in my chest. Cato or one of the others might as well just kill me now, because I felt dead already.
"Hey, lover boy!" Cato's voice echoed around us.
"What do you want, Cato?" I asked.
"Aren't you going to fight? Or are you just going to die?" Cato replied.
"Just kill me then, Cato. Katniss is dead-I don't care anymore." I whispered.
"What the hell, man. Just because she's dead, you want to die as well? Do you care about her that much?" Cato sneered.
"Yes." I said, looking him straight in the eyes.
"Then fight." Cato spat, raising his sword. I grasped the hilt of mine, twisting it upwards to catch his sword against mine. I raised my sword to strike at him, a move which he easily parried, and then he raised his sword at me. I deflected it, and swung my sword. It pierced his stomach, sliding too easily through his flesh. We both gasped at the blow that I knew would end up killing him, myself in shock, and him in pain.
"How?" Cato gasped, falling off my sword.
"I'm sorry, Cato." I whispered. The light faded from his eyes, until there was nothing left but a blank stare. The announcement came on, saying I was the winner of the 74th annual hunger games. But it didn't matter to me. Because Katniss was dead. I picked up her limp form and moved towards the Cornucopia, waiting for the air transport to come get me. I laid Katniss down next to the Cornucopia and gently took her hand in my own. It seemed pointless, but it made me feel better. I squeezed her hand, and was surprised to feel her squeeze back, even if it was faint. I put my hand on her chest, and felt it faintly rise and fall. She was still alive, if just barely. The air transport arrived, and I stumbled on board with Katniss in my arms.
"Haymitch!" I said, upon seeing him.
"Peeta, please put her down." Haymitch whispered.
"Haymitch, she's alive." I whispered back.
"We need a doctor!" Haymitch yelled, looking wildly around. A young man hurried over, took one look at Katniss, and gestured for me to follow him. I did, until we reached a sterile looking place. I put Katniss on the table he told me to, and then went to lean against the wall.
"She's fine, Peeta. She just has a concussion and a few broken ribs." The doctor said after a few minutes. He bandaged her ribs, and then took out a machine that, he explained to me, would expedite the healing process and help her to wake up sooner.
"Peeta." Haymitch said, coming up behind me.
"Yes, Haymitch?" I asked.
"No one from the Capital can know she's alive. It'll be bad if they do. Do you understand?" Haymitch said.
"I understand." I replied, and sat down next to Katniss's bed.
"Peeta?" Katniss whispered, after a few hours.
"Katniss, thank God you're alright." I said.
"What happened?" Katniss asked.
"I thought you were dead, Katniss. So does everyone else, except for Haymitch and a doctor who helped us." I explained.
"They think I'm dead?" Katniss said, shock on her face.
"Yes. And they need to keep thinking it, Katniss. Otherwise…it'll be bad." I replied.
"Okay. You'll take me back to our District, right?" Katniss inquired.
"Of course I will, Katniss. But you'll have to pretend to be dead. Haymitch will probably help us figure something out." I said.
"Okay, good." Katniss whispered, her voice growing hoarse.
"Peeta, how is she?" Haymitch asked, coming into the room.
"I'm fine, Haymitch." Katniss said.
"It's so good to see you awake, Katniss." Haymitch said, coming over and hugging her.
"Haymitch-how are we going to get her out of the capital?" I inquired.
"We're going to make a coffin, and right before you go home, she'll get in. We'll put it in your chamber, Peeta, saying that you want more time with the girl you love. After the train starts moving, Katniss, you can get out. Right before you arrive in District 12, Katniss, you'll have to get back in. The coffin will be taken to Katniss's house, and once all the peacekeepers are gone, Katniss, you can get out." Haymitch explained.
"That's brilliant, Haymitch." Katniss said.
"Yeah, it is, Haymitch." I agreed.
"I'm sorry I ever doubted you, Katniss." Haymitch said.
"It's fine, Haymitch. You were a great mentor." Katniss whispered, her eyes growing heavy lidded, on the verge of closing.
"Why don't you get some rest, Katniss?" I suggested.
"I think I will, Peeta. I'll see you in a bit." Katniss murmured, closing her eyes. The sound of her quiet, even breathing filled the space, compounded by Haymitch and mine's silence.
"Do you think it'll work, Haymitch?" I whispered, so I wouldn't wake Katniss.
"I do, Peeta. Once they suspect a tribute is dead and buried, they don't try to come looking for her. But you'll have to bury the coffin, and pretend like Katniss Everdeen is dead." Haymitch whispered.
"I understand." I replied, feeling profoundly exhausted.
"How about you get some rest, Peeta? I'll stay here and make sure no one bothers you." Haymitch said.
"I think I will." I say, and lay down on one of the spare beds. With sleep comes dreams, and I keep seeing Katniss dead, feeling the profound sense of loss I felt the first time, when I thought she was dead.
"Peeta, wake up. It's time to go. Come on." Haymitch said, shaking me awake. Katniss's eyes are open, and she turns to look at me, but remains lying on the table.
"Morning, sleepyhead." Katniss says, smiling.
"Morning." I reply, smiling back at her, glad that my dreams aren't true, that Katniss is alive and well.
"Peeta, I need you to pick up Katniss. Katniss, you need to close your eyes and breathe as shallowly as you can. You need to seem dead." Haymitch said. We both nod, and I pick Katniss up. She does a good job of playing dead, so good, in fact, that I lean down and whisper in her ear, checking to make sure she is still alive. She smiles in response, but quickly empties her face of emotion.
"Are you ready, Peeta?" Haymitch inquired. I nod, and we exit the aircraft, into the roar of the city. I stumble awkwardly through the crowds, ignoring the screams of people around me, eager to get someplace where Katniss didn't have to pretend to be dead. Haymitch guided me to a car, where I got in, and held Katniss close to me. After the car started, she briefly opened her eyes, looked at me, smiled, and then closed them again. I moved her into more of a sitting position, and leaned her against my shoulder.
"I love you, Peeta." Katniss whispered, her face hidden against my neck.
"I love you too, Katniss." I whispered back. We spent the rest of the ride in silence, and we got back to the place where we stayed soon afterwards. Haymitch and I went to the penthouse, where we had stayed before, and Cinna was there.
"Is it true, Peeta?" Cinna whispered, staring at Katniss's still form.
"Come with me, Cinna." I said, and we walked up to my old room. I set Katniss down on the bed, and motioned for Cinna to close the door. Soon after he did, Katniss sat up.
"That was not easy, sitting still like that. And I imagine that must have been difficult for you, Peeta." Katniss quietly said.
"I kind of liked having you sit on my lap, Katniss." I whispered.
"I could tell." Katniss whispered back, a mischievous grin on her face. I blush, knowing exactly what she is talking about. Clearing my throat, I glance back at Cinna, who has sat down in complete shock.
"Cinna!" Katniss says, getting up and going over to him. She kneels in front of him, and gives him a hug.
"Katniss, how?" Cinna gasps.
"I wasn't actually dead-Peeta just thought I was." Katniss explains.
"But the tracker?" Cinna inquires.
