Peeta found the train ride home lonely. Although he hadn't really talked to Katniss on the way in, he now desperately missed her presence. The sound of her familiar arguments with Haymitch and her determined self-assurance.

Effie was not accompanying them back to district 12, she had no reason to, and Haymitch had returned to his drink. Peeta didn't say anything about it but he knew it had to do with failure and drowning unwanted memories. He had succeded in helping his charges reach the end of the games, but only one survived. And it had always been Katniss who was supposed to win,

As the train neared District 12 Peeta began to panic. He didn't fell like he could deal with Katniss's family, or his own for that matter.

He couldn't wait to get home and see his siblings, his father, and even his mother. But he also wanted the train to go on forever, so he could hide away in his compartment, or join Haymitch in drowning sorrows.

As the train pulled in to the station Peeta took a deep breath and prepared himself for the crowd and cameras.

The train door slid open and he stepped out into the glaring brightness of the overcast sky. The cameras zoomed about disconcertingly, and the people, who had to be there, gathered in hoards. Peeta waved, smiled for the cameras, and began to walk down the platform. He scanned the faces and one, almost unfamiliar, caught his attention. This face glared at him, with distaste or simple hatred he could not tell, but recognized the man as a friend of Katniss.

Peeta tore his eyes away as he heard his name called, and turned to see his sister waving for his attention. She stood with the rest of his family, who were all watching him.

At hurried to his family and as if on instinct embraced his siblings. He felt a moment of surprise as his mothers meaty arms wrapped about him, she had never been very expressive of her emotions. His father smiled sadly at him, he understood what it was like to lose the one you had always loved, though not in such an awful way.

Peeta passed the next few days in a sort of daze, avoiding any real emotion, and interactions with anyone outside his family.

They were moved into a new house in Victors Village but his parents still worked the bakery each day.

The day before he left on the Victory Tour Peeta realized he had something he needed to do.

He gathered together a basket of food and set off through the square.

Peeta knocked on the door and waited in silence. After a few moments the door creaked open and a small face peered up at him.

"Yes?" asked Primrose Everdeen shyly.

"I have brought you food. Is your mother in?"

Primrose nodded and opened the door wide, "Follow me."

Peeta stepped inside and closed the door behind him, then followed Primrose into the small kitchen and set the basket of food on the table.

"Wait here."

Peeta nodded and watched as Primrose left the room and returned a few moments later trailing behind her mother. Mrs Everdeen looked tired, and she stood staring at Peeta for a moment.

"I brought this," Peeta proffered the basket.

"Thank you," her voice was hoarse and thin. She stood still watching him and after a minute Peeta placed the basket on the table.

Mrs Everdeen sat down in a chair and motioned for Peeta to do the same.

"How is your leg?"

Peeta could tell the question was purely out of politeness. "Fine, thank you. How is your work?"

"Oh the same as ever really."

"It's pretty amazing what you do. Katniss said you were magic."

"Mrs Everdeen smiled fondly, but Peeta detected the pain behind the façade.

"I really do try, and Prim is a wonderful helper. Katniss," she paused for a breath and then continued hurriedly, "Did you know she used to run out of the room when there was blood?"

Peeta shock his head in surprise.

"Well she did, never liked seeing all the injuries."

"I never would have guessed. She was squeamish, but did well patching me up. You should be proud."

Mrs Everdeen pursed her lips.

"I know I shouldn't have let her do what she did. I really did love her, and I never thought she'd do it, she had such a strong will to keep alive. She was sure you and Primrose needed her, and she wasn't going to let anything stop her returning. I-" Peeta clasped his hands in his lap, "I'll do anything I can to help you."