Well, I pulled a dumb move. Forgot to add which characters were involved making it near impossible to reach to the correct readers. Oops! Anyway, welcome new and old readers.

Chapter 2

I wish I could claim that incident had opened a new chance to be friends with Peeta. Unfortunately, with exception of him coming to check on me the following morning, things returned to being cool politeness.

As disappointed as I was, I knew I had no right to ask anything more from him. I let it be, and buried myself into excessive hunting. I used the excuse that I was doing it to compensate for Gale, since he had started work in the mines. Really, it was just a reason to be away from the Peeta, and the Victor's Village.

Soon enough, I had something else to worry about.

It started with headaches. Small pinches, at first, which I allowed to pass as nothing. Then, one afternoon, I am hit with a sudden sense of dizziness. I loose my footing, and slam to the leaf covered ground. I had only just caught myself. Yet, the fall had still caused me to slightly twist my ankle. Not enough to sprain it, but still enough for my mother to insist I stay off it for a day.

Since the silver piece had fallen out of me only three weeks prior, I instantly blamed it.

When I mentioned it to Haymitch, he looked on with boredom, "You sure you're not stressing yourself out?"

"I'm being serious," I growl.

"So am I," he countered, and then took a swig of his current liquid lunch. "You're still wound up from the Games, and that goo in your undies left you unsettled. You're instincts are still telling you to be on high alert, but there's no obvious danger, so you're looking for a reason to panic. What you need to do is to calm down before you give yourself an aneurysm."

I had to admit, it made sense. For another week and a half, I tried to chock down my nerves. The headaches were still there, but I found that, when ignored, they were not a severe. Then, on the morning of the fourth day, I made it to the meadow, and promptly fainted. It was only lucky that I was still within the fencing, because I did not come to until almost sunset.

On unsteady legs, I hobbled my way back to the Victor's Village. My head feels like it's carved from stone. I was met half-way by Peeta. Apparently, Prim had gone to him when she learned no one had seen me all day.

"Are you alright? Where have you been?" he eyed my weary stance. His arms were slightly outstretched from his body as if ready to catch me.

There's an uncomfortable feeling in my gut. I'm not sure if I feel guilty for making him worry again, or if it's an empty stomach. Likely both. For this reason, I cannot lie to him, "I passed out."

I don't realize how closely he moves in front of me until his wrist is against my forehead. A blush sneaks its way onto my face, but he does not seem to notice.

"Katniss, you're burning a fever," his tone only just gives away his worry. Suddenly, he's at my side, and wraps a strong arm around my waist. Then he leads my arm to lay loosely across his shoulders. "Let's get you home."

We hardly reach twenty paces, and then I am crying.

Poor Peeta is trying to sooth me, "What's wrong?"

"You're so nice," I whimper. I hate how much I feel like a child. Why am I even crying?

Peeta is clearly just as confused by my words as I am.

"You're kind, and polite," the words come tumbling out. "You saved my life when you through that bread. Even though your mother beat you after."

With each syllable passing my lips, I am starting to wonder if I am loosing my mind. I am reminding myself of Haymitch, which results in me thinking that I may have been secretly intoxicated. I dismiss the thought as soon as it arises. If I had been drunk, surely it would have warn off hours ago.

Instead, I look up into his eyes. He is watching me from the corner of his eyes, I can tell. Thankfully, he is also paying attention to our path.

"Why would you fall in love with me?" I blurt out. Well, no going back from that.

I feel his body stiffen beside me. He is quiet for several moments. Then, the softest smile is on his lips. When he finally looks down to meet my gaze, I'm said to see those deep blues are almost mournful.

Or, perhaps, "longing" would be the better word.

"Because you're special, Katniss."

His answer leaves me breathless. I start to babble on about he would be happier with another woman. Someone who could love him like he deserves. It is mostly incoherent rambles as I feel myself slipping further and further out of consciousness.

I wake again. This time, I am safely tucked beneath a mound of warm blankets.

For the first day, I slept. My mother would occasionally wake me to ensure I downed some medicine, and used the toilet. It takes all my strength to do either. Within 5 minutes, I'm out again.

The second day is Saturday. I'm a little stronger than I was the day before. Any little movement, however, makes my head spin. Prim decides to bring in a chair to sit with me. She tells me stories about some school non-sense. I do my best to respond where appropriate. I am so warm, though, between my fever and my fabric cocoon, that I begin to doze off.

I dream of my father. We are walking in the woods. By now, I know the path well enough to know that he is taking me to the lake. His steps are purposeful, and my small legs are doing everything in their power to keep up with him. Yet, he moves as though he is unaffected by the uneven ground. He's getting farther and father away from me.

Then he stops. He is staring at something to his right.

"Look, Katniss," his voice is as warm as I remember.

I follow his vision to see a tree in the centre of a meadow. I recognize it as an apple tree, but, despite it being late fall, there are no apples. Still, he walks forward into the field of fallen leaves, and vibrant pink wild flowers. Once again, I follow his lead. With each step, I'm surrounded by a sweet perfume. When I reach him, I notice he's still looking at the tree. Curiosity draws my eyes back upwards.

There among the crisp brown and gold leaves are two perfect white blossoms.

My father smiles, "Do you remember what they mean?"

I don't. I am certain that I should, though. "Spring?"

He does not correct me. Instead, he kneels down, and plucks one of the wild flowers.

"Do you remember what this is?" he asks as he hands it to me.

Once again, I get the sense I should know, but I can't remember.

"Remember this," his tone seemed to hold some deep secret. Then he points up at the apple blossom's. "And remember them."

"Katniss?"

Prim's quiet voice startles me awake.

I give a groggy hum.

"I think I'm going to go outside for a little while."

My eyes close, but I reach out to lightly squeeze her hand. "Okay...I just need a quick nap. Let me know when Dad gets home. He's supposed to teach me how to hunt, today."

The room is eerily silent. I would believe my sister had left, except I can still feel her little hand in mine.

"O-okay," she finally squeaks.

I'm alarmed to hear she's on the verge of tears. My eyes shoot open. I have to force down the wave of bile that wants to sneak up my throat when I try to lift myself. "What's wrong, little duck?"

Her eyes are wide as her mouth hangs open. Her jaw is moving up and down as if she is trying to speak, but cannot find the words.

"Prim," I grip her hand a little tighter. "Tell me what's wrong."

At last, she speaks, but her voice is shaky. "Nothing. I-I'm going to get Mom. I think you're fever might be getting worse."

She does not allow me the chance to respond. Her hurried steps race out the door, and I can hear her crying out for our mother before she even reaches the stairs. Though I feel off about the way she was acting, I know I cannot feasibly go after her to get my answers. My aching muscles force me back against my pillows.

For several long minutes, I stare up at the popcorn ceiling making shapes from the ridges, and shadows. All the while, I find myself heavily blinking. Before I fully close my eyes, an image of wild flowers, and white blossoms lingers. I don't know why those specific flowers have popped into my head. Somehow I feel that they are important, though...

Dahlias, I realize. The wild flowers were dahlias, and the white ones were apple blossoms.