"What do you want me to do?" Peeta yelled at his wife, Katniss as the two conversed in a heated argument.
"I don't know" Katniss said, looking him up and down several times as if he held the answer in some part of him "but we can`t let him go on like this."
"Let Haymitch be" Peeta said once more, even though he had already preached this point ten times. Katniss just shook her head and continued with her rant.
"Haymitch can`t handle himself any more, he needs our help" Katniss wailed.
"I don`t want to anger him" Peeta said, trying hard not to raise his voice at his wife.
"Of course you would say that" she screamed, losing the last bit of 'cool' she had "you were always his favorite."
"I was never his favorite Katniss" he said, calmly yet feeling his rage boiling up inside of him "and this isn't about that."
"Yes it is, you just don`t want him to be mad at you because you are just Mr. Perfect" she ranted "you can`t understand why we all just can`t hold hands and bake together because you are mentally deficient. You`re not in the capital any more Peeta, wake up and take a look around you!"
"Capital" Peeta said softly, taking deep breaths as he clutched to the kitchen counter for support.
"Peeta?" Katniss asked. Upon realizing what was happening she ran over to help him. "Peeta" she yelled at him, though it was unlikely he could hear her "Peeta, it`s just the hijacking acting up again. You`re not in the arena, you`re in district twelve. You`re with me, Katniss."
"Katniss?" he questioned, looking up into her eyes. It sounded as if this were the first time he had said it. It took him a few minutes of deep breathing and hard thinking to steady himself on the counter, stand up straight and mutter "mutt." At the word, Katniss gave a gasp. Peeta`s hand were clenched tightly into fists and his face was beat red with anger.
"Peeta" she yelled, running a little further away from him "I`m not a mutt. I love you, and you love me too! We`re married." Katniss` words seemed to have no effect on him though, because he ran straight for her and, grabbing a knife started to attack her.
"Mutt" he said again, this time sounding determined instead of confused "I`m going to kill you mutt!" As he chased her through their house, knocking over what ever got in his way he kept screaming insults at Katniss. "You don`t love me, you`re a liar! You just want to lie to me! That`s all you ever do! You`re just a mutt!" he yelled, causing her to tear up and take a sharp turn into their bed room. Peeta came barreling after her; but she just stood there, cornered. "Aren`t you going to fight me back?" he yelled at her, holding his knife firmly.
"No" Katniss said, shaking her head defiantly "I`m not going to hurt you, I love you."
"No you don`t" he yelled back at her.
"Yes I do Peeta, I love you" she said calmly "and you love me too."
"I do?" he asked. Katniss nodded, looking into his blue eyes. They looked so lost, struck with every emotion possible; confusion, hatred, love, hurt, disgust, more confusion and finally clarity. "I do" he said, as if all of a sudden making up his mind.
"Glad you`re back" Katniss smiled, pulling Peeta into a hug.
"Me too" Peeta said back "how long was I gone?"
"About ten minutes" Katniss guessed "give or take a few seconds."
"It gets better every night" Peeta said, cheerfully.
And this was how every night went in the Mellark-Everdeen house.