Time

This doesn't change anything. In fact, the thought doesn't bother me. Just why would the Capitol want that from us? With all my might, I try to suppress a smile that was trying so hard to form across my face. It's not funny, or anything that'd make me laugh, it's that Haymitch doesn't see the bad side in that demand and he's just laughing uncontrollably. Peeta has to turn around and look away from me because he cannot keep the laugh from escaping his lips. Haymitch makes a complete fool of himself when he's drunk. Right now, he's on the floor, laughing so hard that he dropped the liquor, but grabbed it before it could have spilled. Moving in with Peeta can't be bad, can it? I don't think so. But, then another thought fell crashing into my thoughts. What about Prim? Mother barely wakes up to make her anything from lunch to dinner and she'd probably starve in my mother's hands. My smile fades away and I look towards the floor, thinking hard in my thoughts while Haymitch practically dies laughing. The humor is completely gone because Peeta isn't laughing anymore, but looking at me, probably understanding what I'm thinking. If we don't listen to the Capitol and act like we're extremely happy with them, those thoughts are too rough for me to handle. Haymitch's words don't leave my head.

"The Capitol will keep bothering you. They'll demand things that you cannot refuse to give them. And when you do refuse, they'll kill you. I don't know who, or how, but they'll get cha," he says, as he staggers away in the direction of the Victors Village.

We can't refuse, or the Capitol will be fuming. The only thing I can think of to say is, "Okay," barely over a whisper. Right then, Peeta walks over to me and wraps his arms around me in a hug. This is what the Capitol wants, and I can't change that. And I can't decline. Whatever they'd want from us, we have to give. If I tell Prim, how'll she react? There's no use in trying to hide things from Prim, or she'll feel as we think she can't handle. But how can she, if I can barely handle the fact that every minute, my nightmares are getting worse? We have to be strong. Dreading the moment that Peeta lets go of me, I manage a small smile. He seems so much like the old Peeta that I forget about my worries for about seconds. Haymitch gets off the floor and apologizes for acting like an idiot. But then, he carries on with his ridiculous laughing fit.

He says, his expression showing amusement, "The Capitol wants you two to move in together in a week so…whatever." He crackles the rest of the way out of my house. On the front steps, he trips over. Peeta chuckles and pulls me into another embrace, with me smiling to myself. I wish that we could go into those woods that we loved so much. This moment never felt so great. It feels as if the world is gone when I'm in his arms. And the fact that he's starting to come back, makes me rethink what my situation is. Moving in with him isn't so bad, though my nightmares don't only keep me awake, it also affects people around me. I might not scream as loud as Prim, but I do fidget and move a lot while I sleep, occasionally screaming also. But, I know Peeta would keep my nightmares away, and it makes everything a bit better. No, a lot better. It's not as if I'm moving to another District from Prim. If anything, I can visit her all the time, practically living with her. I'll just be across from her, it's no big deal. Haymitch gets off the floor, with a lot of trouble. He turns and says something quietly, pointing to Peeta with his finger. Then, he staggers into the night.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Peeta asks, sounding extremely concerned.

I roll my eyes. "I'm fine, Peeta," I say as I walk to the couch in the living room.

"You don't sound fine," he mumbles to himself. I know he thinks I didn't hear it, but it's ridiculous, really. He thinks I'm not okay with moving in with him. I'm not showing it. But it doesn't mean that I don't want to when I made it perfectly clear, to myself, that I have no problem with it. He sits down next to me, still looking at my face, reading my expression. I turn my head and surprisingly, I can't help but let that goofy smile I always let creep up my face when he makes the face he always makes when curious. His eyes and eyebrows don't work together. His eyes are focused, but his eyebrows are uneven. My smile turns into laughter. He raises his eyebrow, "Are you laughing at me?" I shake my head, trying to suppress my laughter. "Oh no, you're definitely making fun of me," he says, a smile forming in the corner of his lips. He stands up from the couch and says, "I'll give you a head start."

My eyes widen and I get off the couch faster than a bullet train. I hear him laugh as I run to the kitchen, with him running right after me. I gasp, "That is not fair, that's the shortest head start ever!" I exclaim, laughing at myself because I sounded ridiculous.

He laughs and replies, "Well, should have thought about that before you dared to laugh at me," rushing to the counter I'm behind. I move to my right, him following. There's no way I'm getting out of this one, I think to myself. He's much faster than me, much faster. His reflexes are so quick. In vain, I rush out the kitchen, and he catches me by my waist. I laugh and struggle to get out of his grip. He pulls me close to him, my eyes meeting his. We're silent for minutes, just staring into each other's eyes.

I raise an eyebrow, making him smile. "So what are you going to do now?" I ask him, teasingly.

He grins and suddenly, his lips are pressed against mine. Sparks make rumbling sounds in my ears. Something flutters in my stomach, sending a warm wave over me. His lips are so soft and sweet I can just get lost in them. He pulls away, but I press my lips against his again, not letting his lips leave mine. Right at the moment, Prim comes downstairs opening a question. "Katniss, what is…?" Her voice fades away, and her sleepy eyes are replaced with ones that shine brightly as she smiles. "Oh," she grins, teasingly. "Excuse me, I don't mean to interrupt your 'lovely' moment."

I pull away from Peeta. I see those shiny eyes and that smile I haven't seen in a long while. It's as if she's really smiling. I smile back and stick my tongue out at her, whining. She does the same thing, with Peeta laughing and whispering in my ear, "You're such a kid."

I raise an eyebrow, "Look who chased me around the house."

He smiles, "Very true, but look who laughed for no apparent reason, crazy."

I gasp, falsely. "No, I laughed because your face is funny."

He stops smiling and his expression shows that he's hurt, but I know it's a lie. And when he says, "Oh yeah, the one that you can't stop looking at," his smile appears again, this time, he smiles teasingly.

I grin as Prim says, "You know what, you can go to his house if you need privacy, I'll wait for mom."

Peeta's and my eyes widen and we quickly turn our heads to look at her, in shock. She shrugs innocently and runs upstairs, laughing all the way. I turn to face Peeta, feeling the slight heat burning my cheeks. I'm blushing. He smiles and cups my face in his hands. Then, I feel his warm and sweet lips on mine again. I feel as if I'm fading away, when the front door opens, interrupting us again. This time, it's mother. Immediately, we pull away. But, mother already knows what we have been doing, and I think she won't be too happy to let me move in with Peeta.

Peeta pulls away from our embrace, and stares at the floor, uncomfortably. I can feel mother's eyes on me, when I look up at her, I see the smile forming on her face. She laughs silently, and says, "Well, not what I expected to see right when I got home." I smile to myself, as she walks past me and whispers in my ear, "Haymitch told me about you two moving in together. You're sixteen Katniss, wait for the right time."

My eyes widen and she laughs, heading upstairs. Why does everyone refer to that? "Did you hear…," he looks up at me and grins, nodding his head before I can finish. I smile lightly, "It's not funny, Peeta." I walk to the couch again.

"Then why are you smiling?" He asks, following me to the couch. I sit down, trying to keep myself from laughing as he makes that face again. "Stop laughing at me," he starts laughing after seconds. He lays down on the couch, with his head on my lap as I play with his head. "Why does this face always make you laugh?" He makes the face again, making me burst into laughter.

"Because, it looks…," I can't find the word when Peeta interrupts my thinking.

"Cute?" He grins.

I laugh as I play with this hair. "Okay," I agree, "it looks…'cute'."

"Don't say it like you don't mean it. You know it's true," he says defensively.

I smile, "Fine, I do mean it."

He sits up, his lips meeting mine. I can't help but laugh while we kiss. He pulls away to look at my face. He smiles and says, "Your laugh is beautiful."

I blush furiously. He chuckles and I crash my lips on to his, for like the fifth time. After ten minutes, he leaves, leaving me alone on the couch. I sigh and get up, and head to sleep, knowing my nightmares are not going to leave me this night. I wanted Peeta to stay, but that won't happen. I walk upstairs, slowly, feeling tired, but not in the mood to wake up with bad memories or Prim's screaming. I guess I have to face it, even if it breaks my heart. I need to face the fact that this will be our lives. And it doesn't seem to have any happy moments in it. But I was laughing when Peeta and I were fooling around. Prim was smiling and laughing too. Maybe I wasn't seeing the good happening right in front of my eyes. I can't be negative, I have to stay optimistic. Besides, it's just a matter of time before all the bad is gone, I can feel it.

I know it.

Hope you liked :) I know it's shorter than the other one, but I was in a rush, sorry.