Chapter 1:

The Truth from the Game

The train raced back towards district twelve as we stood at the window. Peeta's hand was mere inches from mine, but he hadn't grasped at my own since leaving the capitol.

"What now?" He finally asked breaking the silence.

"We try to forget."

His hand suddenly grasped at mine and he turned me to face him, "What if I don't want to forget?"

He had to forget. We are going back to district twelve. Victor or no victor, he was the son of a merchant. I was a girl from the Seam, who spent her days hunting illegally in the forest.

I was ready to tell him this when I looked into his eyes. They were a deep blue. Different from the eyes of the boy who gave me the bread; these eyes had seen when I had seen in the games. They were aged, but still belonged to the same kind-hearted boy.

The eyes that looked up at me while I stood in the tree and he distracted the careers.

The eyes that looked into mine while we hid in a cave.

The eyes of the boy who had saved my life more than once. The boy I was only supposed to be pretending to love. The eyes of the boy I am pretty sure I love.

My next words surprised even me, "Me either."

"What? I mean are you sure? There aren't any more cameras around; it's just you and me."

I took a deep breath and gripped his hand tight. "I don't want to forget the good parts with you. I think that I lo…"

He cut me off with a kiss, "Don't." I panicked until he finished his thought. "We will take it slow. Go back and settle into the village. Me, you, and Haymitch."

I laughed for the first time in a while, "He hates me you know."

"Aww, Sweetheart, we were getting so close." A slightly buzzed Haymitch said coming into the room with a class of amber colored liquid.

"If you fall off the stage in twelve again I don't think Effie will let you live," I said turning to face the mentor, who had turned into a father figure, with a sly smile and a tight grip on Peeta's hand.

His eyes found mine and Peeta's hand and he let out a barking laugh, "If only it was that easy in the games. I'll make sure to have Effie edit the speech- presenting the true star crossed lovers of district twelve!" He left the room with a proud smile, he was happy for us.

Peeta led me over to the plush couch as Effie's stern voice lecturing Haymitch about 'proper appearances' carried from a few train cars over.

We sat on the couch similarly to how we sat during the interview with Cesar. Peeta's prosthetic leg, which he still wasn't used to, was placed sturdily on the floor while I leaned into his body curled up on the couch. He played with my hair as we talked.

"Are you ready to go home?"

"Yes," I said thinking of Prim. "It will be different."

"It will. I can teach you how to bake, and you can meet my family."

"I'd like that. You can show your witch of a mother that she was wrong to assume you wouldn't be a victor." He laughed a little, "I can take you to the forest if you want, and the hob."

"Really?" He asked surprised kissing the top of my head, "I'd like that."

"It'll be dangerous," I warned.

"Because we've never faced danger before."

"True. What do you think the houses will look like?"

"I don't know. We could ask Haymitch, but I believe Effie is still yelling at him." He said with a laugh.

"I think I'll miss my home in the Seam."

"You don't have to get rid of it. It can be someplace to escape to."

I tensed up again as we started pulling into the station. Effie hurried into our cart followed by Haymitch. She scowled pulling me up from the couch and Peeta's arms complaining about wrinkles in my dress. Haymitch stuck his tongue out at me over her head, and I found myself immediately feeling around for Peeta's hand.

"That will have to do," She said looking us over one more time. "It's a big, big day!"

The train came to a stop and we watched Haymitch and Effie exit the train. We waited for them to call us, and suddenly I was feeling less than ready. I was about to face a crowd who weeks ago sent me off thinking the same thing I was- I was going to die. To face everyone from the Seam- who had basically paired me off with Gale since we'd met.

Peeta must have sensed something because he kissed my hand. "We will be fine, I am right here."

"Always?"

"Always," He said as Effie announced our arrival- the true star crossed lovers of district twelve, victors of the seventy-fourth annual hunger games.

A/N: Please review (first fanfiction so please be nice!)! Thanks for reading! TBC!