"Should you be eating that before dinner?" Katniss raised her eyebrow to look Peeta over with disapproval "Wouldn't that ruin your appetite?"
He was on his seventh fruit, it was a pear "Katniss, I'm a sixteen-year-old boy. My appetite is never ending. I could probably eat something as large as you and still go for seconds."
She rolled her eyes and poked at the meat her mother was roasting, it shifted a little, was that a good sign? Bad? A sign at all? She honestly didn't know Katniss' forte was nowhere near the kitchen.
The Hawthorne's and the other two Everdeen's were currently enjoying some friendly conversation in the common room as Katniss hid from her confused best friend and her newest friend raided her kitchen as if he hadn't ate in fifteen years, he'd now found his way to her peanut butter. According to his facial expression it went well with pears.
"Kitten?" she turned at the sound of her new pet name she was surprisingly comfortable with "do you want some?" Peeta held out the peanut butter, a small smudge of jelly she wasn't aware of him having consumed on the side of his mouth, he looked comical.
"Sure." She hopped onto the counter beside him and ate some peanut butter off his spoon. Without thinking about it she wiped the jelly off with her thumb and sucked on it.
"Peanut butter and jelly, that's a good combination." She mused going back to the spoon.
Peeta huffed loudly "What the hell do we do when the Quell comes? The Victory Tour? How are we supposed to mentor for the rest of our lives?"
Katniss set down the peanut butter "Peeta, I barely know what I'm going to do tomorrow, let alone the rest of our lives."
"I don't think… Katniss, I don't think I can do it… not for you know… forever. I can't stop thinking that Im going to end up worse than Haymitch," He whispered and hung his head.
"No Peeta I…" she scooted closer to him and wrapped her arms around him; her nose buried in his shoulder "I need you."
"K-" he began but she placed her finger on his lips and turned his face towards hers, their noses touched.
"I need you, Peeta. We're supposed to be a team, I suck a public speaking remember? We'll figure it out," She smiled sadly "Okay?"
He sighed and hoarsely said "Sure Kitten."
"Sorry to interrupt!" They both turned their heads slightly to see Prim skip into the kitchen, the empty wicker basket they used for bread in her hands. Katniss and Peeta didn't shift from their hugging position, Katniss rolled her eyes, and Peeta smirked.
"Don't be antisocial guys! Come on we have tea." Prim shot them a smile as she filled up the basket with the bread form the large paper bag. Apparently they were plentiful in rolls. "And we all know neither of you can cook to save your life."
"I'm a baker, thank you very much!" Peeta grinned and got a superior look about him.
"I don't think you can live off on bread only." Katniss said seriously "We'll be just another minute, okay Prim?"
Prim nodded and skipped out of the room, they could both hear her say "They'll be just another minute!"
Katniss turned back to Peeta, "Stop talking crazy okay? We'll just have to deal with things."
He nodded and hopped off the counter, tugging on her hand "Come on, let's go eat, I'm really hungry."
The moment Peeta laid eyes on the food he dropped her hand and embraced his new passion, meat. Katniss rolled her eyes and followed him to where her mother was handing out slices of the animal. As she sat down beside him she poked him. "How do you have enough space to eat so much?"
He looked at her as if she should know the answer to that question "Excuse you, I've been around you all day and we haven't stopped to eat something at any point today. All I had was some bread I found on my kitchen counter. You should be starved as well."
Now that she thought about it they hadn't eaten anything all day, it took one bite for her stomach to react like a ravenous animal. She turned to Peeta again "Pass me the potatoes"
Her universe had been reduced to the food before her; she didn't realize that someone was attempting to gain her attention until Peeta poked her cheek with the clean side of his fork. She jumped slightly.
"Gale's talking to you." He motioned with the fork and she turned to look across the table.
The whole table laughed softly at her cluelessness, Peeta stole a bread roll off her while she was distracted. She wasn't eating it.
"Sorry." Katniss blushed "You were saying?"
Gale gave her a funny look, "I said what did you do today? I didn't see you at all."
Prim grinned "Katniss spent the whole day with Peeta,"
Peeta smirked; Katniss gave her sister a shocked look "Prim."
"What? That is what you did today right? Unless you two were up to more things, private thi-"
"Okay, that's enough Prim." Peeta said firmly but not unkindly, Katniss' dark skin tone was blushing furiously.
"You're hiding something." Prim said in a singsong voice.
"Prim." Both Katniss and Peeta said at the same time.
Prim only snickered triumphantly.
"Well, yeah, I spent the day with Peeta. Sorry Gale, I forgot it was Sunday." Katniss looked at Peeta with mock disapproval when she noticed her bread roll missing, the blond boy shrugged while smiling sheepishly.
"What did you guys do?"
Katniss and Peeta turned to glance at each other, almost as if programmed by clockwork. What could they say? Word got around quick, and their activities wouldn't stay secret for long. The house was bugged but Katniss had spoken about hunting under its roof before. It wasn't the fact that the activity was illegal, but it was the house itself. It wasn't their safe heaven; it wasn't a place to be free because the Capitol had found a way to wiggle its way into their personal lives. So in a matter of second it was agreed, the message relayed by a glance of their eyes, they weren't to speak about this in here, at the table like the ideal family. Even if their spies already knew, if Peeta had already talked about it the night before, no matter what, it felt wrong to speak of at that moment. With an invisible nod to everyone but Katniss Peeta answered the question seamlessly.
"We went for a walk; this house gets stuffy in winter especially since Katniss doesn't have anything else to do now."
Gale looked them over with clear disapproval written across his features, her heart sunk. Had she hurt is feelings by missing a hunting day? She had only spent one day with Peeta, they were friends, and it wasn't like she was replacing her best friend.
Well was Gale really her best friend?
She couldn't talk to him the way she knew she could talk to Peeta. She couldn't imagine a scenario where she would be comfortable falling asleep on the couch on top of Gale, she couldn't see them talking about their deepest fears, she couldn't imagine going through the hardest experience in her lifetime –The Hunger Games- with Gale. All she could ever picture doing with Gale was killing animals and maybe tossing around a generic joke or two. Even jokes were much more fun said to Peeta.
She pushed away these thoughts, she wasn't about to reconsider her friendship with Gale, it just was what it was. Sure, it hadn't sprouted as easily as any conversation she'd had with Peeta but it was a good, sturdy friendship.
"Well, I went hunting. The animals are migrating, not much is left out there, some plants can be dug up, and there's the occasional squirrel." Gale spoke casually as he stabbed the vegetables in his plate.
"Will someone pass me the pepper?" Katniss wondered, anxious to get off the topic of hunting, and anything else illegal.
"Hey Prim, you never answered our Rory question." Peeta grinned at Prim when she dropped her fork at his words.
"What about me?" Rory questioned, confused.
Katniss smiled "I don't know, what about Rory, Prim?"
"I don't know, Kitten." The blond girl countered
Gale frowned, confused, and tore his bread in half. Mrs. Everdeen was laughing at something Hazelle said.
"Kitten?" Gale stuffed his face with bread "what's with that?"
"Peeta gave Katniss a pet name." Prim supplied helpfully and stuck her tongue out towards her sister.
Peeta rolled his eyes "It's not a pet name, it just happened." He said for Katniss' benefit. He was on her team. Katniss simply turned to smile at him, 'thanks.'
Dinner continued on, Peeta said something funny, Katniss laughed with everyone else. Gale asked if he could be free to call her Catnip, complain free, since Peeta got away with Kitten, Katniss only laughed. No. Prim continued on to insinuate things between Katniss and Peeta, Katniss ate most of the bread, Possy wondered aloud about the Quarter Quell before any of her brothers could stop her. Both Katniss and Peeta grew very quiet after that.
Dinner wasn't exactly a relaxed affair; there was an odd air of hostility directed towards Peeta from Gale whom was seated across from Katniss. Peeta didn't seem to mind, he sat beside her, cracking jokes, making Prim blush over Rory, and repeatedly eating off Katniss' plate since she ate off his as well. Prim defended herself against the Rory comments with mockery, such as, 'how does Peeta's mouth taste like?' Katniss was no longer embarrassed at this point, only annoyed; she said he ironically tasted like bread and that she should try it sometime. Peeta laughed hard and gave Katniss a well-deserved high five. Mrs. Everdeen scolded both of them, but was smiling as well. All Gale did was roll his eyes.
Peeta left soon after dinner, he successfully helped put the dirty dishes in the sink but was ushered out by all the Everdeen's. No guest of theirs would wash the dishes. He smiled and said he was off to visit Haymitch, after accepting some broth for the drunken mentor he was off, leaving Katniss and Gale alone to wash the dishes while Prim entertained Rory, Vick and Posy. The older women in the house were seated by the fireplace, chatting.
Gale dried and stored while Katniss washed. She was having a particularly hard time with a spoon when he spoke.
"So Peeta, huh?"
That was the least descriptive comment that she'd ever heard "Yes Peeta exists." She replied.
"No." Gale stacked a series of plates "I meant, you and Blondie, you know, huh."
"Yes Gale, Peeta and I are very much involved in the sport of huhing." She grinned at his irritated expression as she passed him a glass.
He rolled his eyes and concentrated on his task. He would not react too dramatically over this; Peeta Mellark had already shoved his tongue down her throat on National television and then he hadn't been this distraught. He could manage whatever sort of connection they had now. But dammit, he had never seen two people that comfortable with each other, except maybe his parents. He shook off whatever that implied and focused on not cutting himself with the knife he was drying.
"You know, I'm honestly concerned about the whole Prim and Rory thing, should we keep them away from each other?" Katniss chewed on her lip before continuing "I mean, it may be a little too cruel… it's not like something bad could happen but… I just didn't believe Peeta when he said that the worst thing that they'd probably done by now was hold hands, Prim is twelve Gale, twelve, well she'll be thirteen soo-"
"You already talked to Peeta about this?" he was taken aback; Katniss wasn't known to be very talkative.
"Well yeah, it came up last night while we were playing chess." Katniss continued washing, not seeing what he found so wrong with that answer.
"Last night? Katniss the snow cleared around one in the afternoon. What? How?" he dreaded her answer.
Katniss smiled "Prim's been teasing me since, Peeta spent the night here with me." She continued washing, not seeing how much that answer disturbed him.
"You were in an empty house, with him, for hours?" he set down the knife; he could harm himself unknowingly otherwise.
"Mmhmm." She passed him a plate; he didn't dry it, only held it. "It was fun; we tried to stay up, ended up passing out on the couch." She began to drain the soapy water "Here I'll help you put some of this stuff away."
Why wasn't she having the proper reaction to this piece of information? "Do you not see what's wrong with that entire picture?"
Katniss gave him a funny look "Um, no." she threw a rag at him "C'mon, dry the plate and give me a hand."
He staggered a little, not having been expecting the rag, but got to work. They were silent, Gale tense and bothered, Katniss relaxed and humming under her breath. Did they need to clean that window? Maybe she would, she had so much free time. She closed the glass-fronted cabinet doors and turned to face her friend "So Prim and Rory, what do you think?"
"They're good kids, let them be." He said absentmindedly and Katniss made a face, not liking that he agreed with Peeta, and honestly, he didn't like it either but it was the truth. Prim and Rory weren't up to any ill-fated misadventures. Katniss and that Peeta Mellark on the other hand, that was a different story all together in his book.
"Are you okay, Gale?" she put a handful of utensils away in a drawer "if you glare at the kitchen counter anymore it may just burst into flames."
He smiled "Nah, I'm fine, just had a rough week at the mines."
Katniss looked concerned "If you let me help you your shift could be shorter, you wouldn't need such long hours."
He waved her off as usual "I'm fine, Catnitp."
She believed him.
Katniss Everdeen really hated her bedroom. It wasn't because it was ugly, small, or inadequate in any way or form. Her bedroom was a luxury. It had a bathroom with a spacious tub and shower, hardwood floors, wide windows with a beautiful view of Twelve and Peeta's house, a soft area rug which someone had once called Persian –whatever that was, and a spacious bed that felt like a cloud. The thing she hated about her bedroom was what happened within its beautiful wallpapered walls. Her screams at night would pierce the still air after she was infected by yet another bone chilling nightmare. There was no way around it, succumb to sleep, suffer.
She settled among her sheets with a book, planning on reading for as long as she could. It was something called 'Alice in Wonderland.' She didn't understand why the hatter was mad and why the rabbit was late unable to concentrate on the book because of her heavy eyelids. Frustrated she shut the book and threw it across the room. She sat there, huffing, thinking about inconsequential things to keep her mind occupied. Did she lock the front door? Her boots needed new laces, and Prim was in need of a new hair ribbon. She was sure she had a coin or two around this room, where did they keep the money? Maybe she could convince Peeta to let her mend the buttons on his coat. Peeta, did he know where she had put her gloves? How could she have lost them? She never lost anything. She had to go see Haymitch, in some twisted way she kind of missed him. Insomnia was really getting to her, fond thoughts of Haymitch? She shivered. If she got drunk at night would that prevent nightmares? Probably not; maybe she would forget them when she woke up, that seemed like something worth exchanging nausea for. Did she feed Buttercup? Who cares, let the thing die already…
She sat up in her bed and screamed. Her sweat drenched skin was hot despite the cool air. She'd just had a nightmare; every time she blinked she could see it. Prim, Peeta, Rue, mutts… It was too much for her. Her entire body was shaking and she felt as if the walls were closing in on her. Her door burst open and Prim ran in, looking disheveled from sleep, her eyes wide and worried. Katniss' heart constricted, in her mind she knew her sister had never come into any proximity of mutts, but seeing her alive and well was just such a relief.
"Katniss, you scared me, are you okay?" Her sister climbed into bed with her and rocked her in her arms like a small child. Katniss burst into tears, the room was still too small, her heart was racing, and despite her sister's best efforts she didn't feel comforted, she was on the verge of hysteria. She pulled herself out of her sister's arms and put on her father's hunting jacket over her nightgown, she jumped on one foot as she pulled on her boots over her sock clad feet.
"Is it alright if I go for a walk, Prim? I just… I need to breathe a little."
Her sister looked doubtful but nodded "sure, whatever will make you feel better."
Katniss walked about the Victors Village. The empty houses made her feel a little sick to her stomach, knowing what had to be done for someone to 'deserve' to live here. She shoved her hands in the coats pockets and continued to walk, gulping in as much of the frigid air as possible, cleaning her body of the foul dream, she didn't realize her destination until her feet halted and refused to take another step.
Of course she would go to Peeta's house.
All the lights were on, he wasn't having a goodnight either. Tentatively she knocked, still a little shaken from her distressing dream and waited looking around the cold December evening. There were icicles forming, they were having a white Christmas for sure.
The door opened, revealing an equally terrified Peeta. The bags under his eyes were pronounced, his hair disheveled, and his eyes looked sad. The moment she saw him she threw her arms around him in a tear-filled hug.
"You're okay!" she exclaimed, sounding pathetic.
"And so are you." He replied, voice filled with emotion as he hugged her fiercely and shut the door with his foot.
"I wish the nightmares would go away." She whispered into his shoulder and wrapped her legs around him when he began to half-lift half-drag her into the other room. She was simply making things easier for both of them.
They settled on his couch "Me too." He replied and sighed "but they won't."
She lifted her head a little and looked up at him; he looked so tragic "they do when you're with me."
"Same for me." He confessed and squeezed her a little "Would you…" he breathed deeply and continued to whisper "would you stay? Here… with me."
Katniss smiled "Why would I want to go anywhere else?"
Peeta's bedroom was everything hers wasn't, it was cozy and comfortable, and it was safe. Maybe that was because it belonged to him. The sheets smelled like him, and the pillow felt softer. They fit around each other like puzzle pieces meant to click together. His arms were strong and safe, his hands large and comforting as they stroked her back. Their noses almost touched as they observed each other, Peeta's finger ran along her spine and she shivered.
"Are you cold?" he murmured, misinterpreting her shiver.
She nodded anyways knowing Peeta would fix everything and her embarrassing reaction to him wouldn't be known.
He swung his leg over hers and tucked her closer into him, successfully warming her. Her fingertips grazed over the collar of his shirt as they both yawned simultaneously.
He smiled sleepily at her; his skin was warm wherever she touched him "everything feels so much better when you're here." He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled deeply.
Maybe that comment should have scared her; maybe they shouldn't be this comfortable with each other, this dependant on each other. But to her it was okay, this was Peeta, he wasn't going anywhere. She would never be scared as long as he was around to make things better, everything felt nicer with him by her side, and the world was just a little brighter when he smiled. Everything could be confronted if he accompanied her.
They would be okay.
"You make everything… safe." She whispered groggily, her words spilling out of her mouth without a second thought. She brushed some hair off his forehead and yawned again "Goodnight, Peeta."
"Goodnight, Kitten." He smiled and it felt like her heart would summer sault out of her chest.
No nightmares.
There was pounding at the front door and Peeta groaned beneath her. He rubbed his right eye and looked around. Katniss was keeping her eyes closed but she wasn't asleep. Her beautiful small form sprawled across him, her dark tresses everywhere. She frowned and fluttered her eyes open, pouting she looked deep into his eyes and open her mouth to speak and in that moment she was more beautiful than he'd ever seen her "Someone is trying to burst open your door."
"I noticed, maybe if we don't move they'll go away." He ran his fingers through her hair and she gave him a serious expression.
"What if it's an emergency?" she rolled off him and sat up crossed legged beside him "Peeta, something could have happened, go open the door."
"You do it." He complained and pulled a pillow over his head.
She shoved him "It's your house little baker." She grinned when he didn't move "Come on, please?"
"Fine." He groaned and basically fell out of bed, Katniss laughed loudly "keep laughing; I'll just have to carry you down with me."
She gasped and pulled the sheets around her as if it were some sort of protective barrier "You wouldn't."
"Is that a challenge?"
She squealed and squirmed away from him when he made an attempt to reach him "Peeta, no. Go answer the door, they sound desperate!" she was smiling, her voice getting higher pitched every time he pulled her towards him.
"Okay." He gave in, releasing her ankles, which he was using to pull her towards him, and clambered down the stairs "But I shall have my revenge!" he shouted over his shoulder.
She rolled her eyes "Mmhmm." She stood and tucked her hair behind her ears and set about making the bed. They both moved around a lot in their sleep, she found her sock under Peeta's pillow for some completely unknown reason. The sheets really smelt nice, like the happy warmth that surrounded Peeta Mellark. She was fluffing his pillows when she heard a familiar voice in hysterics.
"…She never came back! Said she was going out for a walk and I dossed off and… Peeta something could have happened to her! It's freezing out there! Why aren't you reacting?! Oh God, oh God! Peeta say something! Oh my God"
"Prim? I'm right here." Katniss squinted her eyes a little at the bright light that the snow reflected into the house, she caught her sisters shocked expression when she saw her before she leapt up the stairs towards her two at a time, her small feet flew up the staircase and as quickly as humanly possible her sister enveloped her in a tight hug.
"Oh Katniss you had me so worried." Prim murmured into her hair "you should have left a note, just told me you were spending the night at Peeta's." Katniss squeezed her sister tightly and immediately felt guilt. Why didn't she consider her sisters emotions when fleeing her house?
"Would you ladies like some breakfast?" Peeta offered and Katniss nodded as best as she could with her sister holding her so tightly.
Katniss was not allowed to help in any way when it came to the cooking, Peeta and Prim did that. Katniss was pretty useless around the kitchen, she could barely boil water properly, there was no way she was willingly tackling pancakes. Instead she settled for watching Prim and Peeta and found herself smiling the entire time. They were already so happy around each other. It had taken Prim a while to warm up to Gale but Peeta… well Peeta was great. The blondes could joke freely- mostly at Katniss' expense- and could simply fall into a brother and sister relationship so easily it was as if it was meant to be.
They enjoyed a lovely conversation while they ate. Katniss hogged the maple syrup, Peeta swallowed most of the pancakes, and Prim informed them that some camera crews may arrive soon. According to the television Capitol people were starting to miss talking about them.
Katniss put on a faux serious face "Alright, Prim. You gotta go so that Peeta and I can practice our kisses for the cameras."
"Can we do head tilt, playful tongue this time? I've got the heavy stuff down now; I've even been practicing my moans." Peeta added with a grin.
"You guys are horrible." Prim shook her head with a grin of her own "also mother wants to speak to you, about what happened."
Katniss was taken aback by this; her mother hadn't been an active member of their family for five years. What could she possibly have to say? They had some idle chat, mostly led by the blondes in the room, as Katniss puzzled over her mother. She had been responsive lately; she was even smiling and laughing now. Could this be it? Could this really be the time her mother became lucid again? Was her mother really finished her eternal mourning period?
How was Katniss ever to forgive the woman? After all she'd done, after all the tears Katniss had shed at her feet while she begged for guidance, help anything. How was she to forget all those years spent in silence? How was she to ever release that hatred, disappointment, betrayal?
Much too soon Prim said her goodbyes and walked out of the house, Katniss stayed seated, thinking of her mother as Peeta did the dishes.
"You know, I've been considering setting myself on fire just for the heck of it." Peeta mused.
She turned to stare at him incredulously "Huh?"
He tossed the kitchen rag onto the counter and walked towards her, grinning he leaned against the back of a dinning chair "Katniss, I've been talking to you for the past fifteen minutes, you were away in your own world."
She ducked her head "Sorry, I've just got a lot on my mind."
Peeta gave her an understanding expression "How about this? Help me put away the dishes, I'll throw in some horrible jokes; get your mind off things. I'll be leaving soon, I need to take a shower so…"
"You need this finished quickly?" she lifted a brow and after a second he nodded. She stood, stretched a bit and waved him out of the kitchen "Go shower already, you smell."
With a scoff from him and a very unladylike laugh from her Peeta skipped up the stairs humming horribly out of tune.
Katniss sat on the floor at the foot of Peeta's bed, buying herself some time. She knew she had to leave at some point and actually see her mother, yet she would rather pluck her eyebrows than do so. She had a feeling that the conversation her mother wanted to have with her wouldn't be pleasant, she began to finger comb her hair to braid it, if making herself somewhat presentable would defuse any possibly tension she would do it.
Peeta walked into the room, looking fresh from his shower and sat crossed-legged before her. His blond hair was damp and he was dressed in grey draw-string pants and a white t-shirt, his eyes were impossibly blue. Light-heartedly he poked her shoulder "Playing chicken?"
She rolled her eyes "No. I'm just hiding in your bedroom, very different."
He nodded sarcastically "Oh, yes I see the difference, it is so incredibly blatant."
Katniss smiled "Shut up." After he dramatically sealed his lips she laughed and rolled her eyes "I just... well I kind of don't want to do this."
He lifted an eyebrow "Are you scared?"
"No." she said firmly and glared at him for even considering that "No, I just don't want to talk with my mother."
"Why not?"
"Why should I?" Katniss snapped unintentionally and breathed deeply "Honestly Peeta. The woman abandoned me when I needed her the most."
Peeta pulled her towards him, willingly she fell into his calming hug "Yes, but she has problems. She didn't intentionally leave, she was sick."
She hid her face in his shoulder "Why are you always right?"
"Because someone has to be the rational one, now go talk to your mom." He poked her ribs and she jumped away from him "Now that's the spirit, go Everdeen! Go!"
Katniss rolled her eyes and collected her discarded jacket and boots off the floor, she offered Peeta a sarcastic salute which he returned and strode out his bedroom door with her head held high. She hesitated at the front door, but Peeta's voice shouted out the bedroom door "Go Everdeen! Go!" she smiled and marched outside towards her house.
Fear was a funny emotion. Its coming paralyzed her and made her make rash decisions at times. Right now, Katniss was afraid. Normally throughout her lifetime she would suppress the emotion, since she couldn't afford to let it consume her when she had a family to support. Fear wasn't practical or trustworthy. Yet she'd carried a lot with her ever since The Hunger Games, something just didn't feel right about her victory, she felt as if there was a looming threat, just awaiting its chance to attack both her and Peeta.
She wondered why she was having such a strong reaction to her mother. She was just a small blond woman, 5'4 in height, with a round face and delicate features. How horrible could a conversation be? It was just a conversation.
She stopped in the middle of the road and seriously considered running back inside Peeta's house.
She took a calming breath stared down the front of her house and marched in with the determination only an Everdeen could conjure. Once in there she looked around the place hoping to get this over with, with each passing second her determination shriveled away a tiny bit revealing a young girl who somehow was still intimidated by her mother after years of independence. She had to give the woman some credit; she had whipped this mentality into her really well. The most offensive word she could even relate her mother to was absent.
Cautiously Katniss made her way into the family room, and as she expected, her mother was in a chair by the roaring fireplace knitting. Childish worry struck in Katniss' breast, was she in trouble?
She frowned at her own thoughts. Honestly, what was going on?
She approached her mother slowly, like an animal around its prey, her mother craned her neck to look at her and immediately she froze.
"Come here, Katniss." The small woman waved her over, Katniss hesitated before sitting at her feet.
"Mother." With a nod Katniss acknowledged her mother.
"Katniss, you had me worried today. Where did you go?" Katniss recognized that tone and expression. Her mother spoke as she knitted, pretending that the conversation wasn't of the high magnitude she held it as. Gulping, Katniss attempted to word her answer properly but who was she kidding, she had no idea which words were right and which ones were wrong.
"I spent the night at Peeta's." to her surprise her mother's face brightened, as if her words reminded her of something else.
"Leave a note next time." Euthalia Everdeen set down her knitting and rummaged inside the yarn basket. She produced a crisp white envelope of stiff paper. The Capitol's seal shone proudly across it and Katniss' heart hammered. This was it, this was the end. Whatever was in that envelope could only be bad news "This came in the mail. It got me… worried."
Katniss expression evolved and she almost smiled. She could not explain the warmth that radiated through her chest at her mother's words. For years she had buried her childish desires but they were still there, they would never leave. She would always have the need for her mother, the desire to be cared for, to be loved. At that moment she reacted like that terrified eleven year old child whose ultimate wish was to be hugged by her mother while she crooned that everything would be alright.
Quickly she composed herself and concentrated on the envelope "What does it say?"
Euthalia frowned and smoothed her daughter's hair. She sighed and handed her the letter "I couldn't bring myself to open it… I… well I know you would only hate me so much more."
Katniss was far from trusting her mother again, far from believing she was cured but she was not emotionless, she only knew how to hide her emotions well. Under the mask of her serious expression Katniss' heart broke at her mother's words. She did not hate her mother, she loved her still, and she always would. She just needed to protect beforehand, she wasn't going to commit a mistake that would end up harming her and Prim emotionally.
Without a word she took the envelope and tore it open, the sound of the paper and the burning wood in the fireplace filled the room. She glanced at her mother with fear in her eyes before returning her words to the crisp and perfect handwritten note she held. Her mother ran her fingers through her hair soothingly.
"Beautiful work Miss Everdeen. Expect cameras in three days' time, our Victory Tour starts early. Be prepared to leave just after the holidays.
Let the Games begin
From the desk of President Cornelius Snow"
Katniss shivered. Three days, they had three days left to live freely. Three days before the line between reality and theatrics blended together, three days until her friendship with Peeta would surely get complicated, three days of sanity left. Quickly Katniss stood to hug her mother which left her blinking away, stunned. She ran up the stairs and dressed herself, stuffed some of Prims leather shoes into a bag and ran out the door. She needed to speak to someone.
