Hi! So this is my first time writing fanfic, and honestly, I'm a tiny bit nervous! This will contain some violence, but not too much! It's mainly just a Hunger Games after the war fic. I know, overdone. Of course, it is Katniss/Peeta, because they are PERFECT! Anyways, you probably didn't even read this, but if you did, you're way more patient than me! I skip these. On with the story!

-Catswithclaws13

DISCLAIMER: All the characters and and stuff from the books or movies is NOT MINE, everything but the plot of this fic is property of the amazing Suzanne Collins!

I still see her in my dreams- no, nightmares. Each night, I wake, screaming and crying like a little baby. It's only been a month since my little duck left this world and the war ended. I've finally been let out to be alone. After I shot Coin, people thought I was mentally insane or something. Actually, that's what Dr Aurelius said at my trial, in my defense. In all honesty, Coin killed Prim, along with hundreds, maybe thousands, of innocent young people. So maybe, in some ways, she deserved it. It isn't the Capitol children's fault they were raised in a plastic and oblivious environment.

I'm not doing so well. I've been crying and having nightmares each time I close my eyes. I see Prim, blowing up in front of me. Rue, blood gushing out of her young, gentle body. Finnick, ripped apart my mutts. And all the others, who died, their blood on my hands. The hands that held the berries on that fateful day. If that stupid president Snow hadn't forced Panem into these games, those people would still be here.

Haymitch, surprisingly, has given up drinking. He threw out all the liquor he owned. He now keeps geese, as a type of therapy, almost. I visit him frequently, as he is, though his gruff exterior, someone I know will help and comfort me.

I haven't seen Peeta yet, though. In fact, he isn't back in District 12 yet. He has been undergoing a special treatment in the Capitol for the hallucinations. I really do need this to go well. Actually, Peeta needs it more than anyone. I never thought I would love someone like I love Peeta, but here we are. Oh my god, I just remembered that Peeta is returning today, at 9 in the night! I need to see him, my boy with the bread, my dandelion in the spring.

I go to the bathroom of my majestic house. I still refuse to call any place the Capitol built my home. The bathroom has a gigantic jacuzzi bathtub, that I fill with warm water and climb into.

I relax in my bath for about a half hour. I think about all the trauma countless people, and myself for that matter, have endured. It isn't fair. I know that makes me sound like a three year old who didn't get the toy they wanted, but it's true. I'm a 17 year old girl, I should be thinking about normal things, not a traumatic civil war. If there were no damn games in the beginning, I would have Prim, Finnick, Rue, all those people who died for something no one should die for.

I suddenly realize that it's 8:40, so I only have 20 minutes to get ready to go to the train station to welcome Peeta home. I frantically get out of the tub and walk to the vanity sink. I see that bucket of Capitol makeup my prep team has sent me, along with wax, hair styling tools, and clothes I wouldn't wear in my entire life. Ever. I quickly take my brush and comb my wet hair, and once I finish that, I fasten my dark brown hair in my signature braid. I slip on my black pants, then a bright red hoodie. I brush my teeth, then finally, I look like a somewhat sane person, not a girl who has been through more tragedy in 17 years than most will ever endure.

I walk as fast as I can to the train station. In a short three minutes, I'm there. Luckily, the train has just pulled up. Haymitch, who left a few days ago so Peeta could have someone familiar with him on the way back, steps off the steps of the train, with Peeta not far behind.

"PEETA!", I yell, not caring about the looks of those around me. I run up to the two of them.

"Hey, Sweetheart. How are you? You've been eating right?", Haymitch asks nervously after embracing me.

"Yes, Haymitch." I respond, hopefully convincing him of my lie. It doesn't work though.

"I can tell you haven't, so from now on I will be over each day to make sure you are eating. I'll let you two reconcile now." The middle aged Victor says, and with a wave of his hand, he is on the way to Victor's Village, the one spot the Capitol avoided bombing. I'm suddenly taken off guard when Peeta hugs me.

"Katniss, I've missed you so much. I don't have many memories of the end of the war, though. It's all hazy from the attempt to remove some tracker jacker venom. Could you fill me in?" Peeta asks innocently. Then before I know it, unstoppable tears are falling from my eyes, and I pull away from the hug.

"Are you okay? Did I say something?" Peeta says nervously.

"No, it's not your fault. The war is just a… Touchy subject for me. Too much trauma, you know?". Of course he knows, why did I even ask that? I'm so stupid. I've probably upset him now.

"I know what you mean. Trust me. We can help each other though. Be friends, tell the deep stuff like our favorite colors, remember?" Peeta says, reminiscing in that memory from the train during our Victory Tour.

"Of course I remember, it was a pretty funny time, really. Do you feel like going to the village now? You need to get some rest." I tell him. I'm just happy that he is feeling well, and hasn't tried to choke me yet.

We set off for Victor's Village, not talking, but holding each other's hands, knowing that in this time, in the midst of these after-war feelings, all we need is each other's support. Peeta is some of the best support I can get, even if he's not completely stable. But really, in hindsight, are any of us actually stable after this experience? We just pretend for the cameras, then break down on our own, coping in different ways.

Eventually, after walking much slower than I did on my way here, we reach the little area occupied by only three people. It's dark now, in the early September night, but everything feels…lighter, I guess. Peeta's back, so I'm happy about that, definitely. Finally, I remove my hand from Peeta's.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow, okay Peeta? Get some sleep." I say to him sleepily.

"Sure, you make sure you sleep too. I know that you're tired right now. I'll make you breakfast tomorrow, how about that? I haven't baked in ages." He tells me, clearly excited at the thought of baking again. I can't tell him no, and I want to hear how his treatment went.

"That's good with me. Come over when you're ready, the door is never locked. I'll tell you some of the details you're hazy on, and you tell me about the treatment. Sound good?" I ask him, hoping he's okay with it.

"Yeah, that's fine with me. Goodnight, Katniss." He says in his smooth voice. I missed that voice. I missed him overall.

"Goodnight, Peeta." I say to him, giving him a quick hug before parting to our separate houses. I make sure he gets into his alright first, then go into mine. Once I'm ready for bed, I climb in, snuggle into the down comforter, and brace myself for the nightmares that are sure to haunt me tonight, the only comfort being the fact that I will see Peeta tomorrow.

Alright, so that's the end of my first chapter! I must say, 1,393 words in one hour is probably a record for me. Please review as I would appreciate your thoughts!

-Xoxo, Catswithclaws13!