Blood. It was everywhere. The whole world around me seemed to be drenched in it. Like you could swim in it and never drown. I begin to swim, hoping I could find my way to shoreline. The farther I got the more disturbing things became. All of a sudden, my hand touched something. Grasping it, I pulled it toward me. The horror that laid in my hand forced me to scream like a banshee. It was a head. The boy from District 4. As I threw it, more heads begin to pop up; surrounding me. I couldn't think, I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe...

Thrashing in my bed, I couldn't scream. Choking, I fought trying to free myself of my entrapment. Lunging to my side, I felt something solid beneath me. Clawing at it, I scrambled to get to the safety of something ...anything... Fear raced through me as I struggled to breathe.

As I fought to save myself from my nightmare, something grabbed me. Held me tightly. Whispering words that I couldn't understand. Finally after minutes of struggling, I could make out words like...'breathe Katniss...' 'I'm here, you're OK...' The voice was comforting, strong, and for me, very patient.

Trusting myself, I opened my eyes and my room surrounded me. The soft hues of my walls gave comfort that I wasn't in sea of blood. A hand stroking my hair, I twisted my head to see my rescuer. Peeta. Again? Sighing in relief, I smiled at his presence.

"It's OK Katniss...the nightmare is over, I'm here." I heard him whisper. I don't know if he knew I was looking at him, but his arms around me felt right. He rocked us gently for a few more minutes before he stopped to check on me. His smile spelled relief.

"Hey..." he whispered.

"Hey..." I whispered back gently.

"Are you OK?" he asked me worriedly.

I nodded sitting myself up a little. "I am...I think. Though my dream was horrible. More-so than the last one I had. How did you get here?"

"Your mom came and got me. She said you were having another nightmare. I think she was afraid you would hurt yourself. Do you want to tell me about it?" He asked tentatively.

I chewed my lower lip, but nodded. "I was in a sea of blood. I was trying to swim to shore when I felt something. I looked at my hand and it was a head, the kid from District 4. I threw it back but then more heads started to pop up. I couldn't breathe or move. I was scared out of my mind Peeta." I explained to him shuddering.

He nodded quietly, his own shudder raced through him, "So that's why you were choking for air?"

I nodded burying my head into his shoulder like his scent and presence could chase away my nightmare. Holding me gently, I sighed looking up at him. We were both gonna be exhausted tomorrow, but right now, I couldn't sleep. Turning my head toward him, his eyes were closed. As they opened, he begin to move. "I need to get you into your bed and myself home before your mom gets suspicious..." He said with resignation.

Letting me go, he held his hand out for me. Taking it, our bodies collided easily. Waiting with baited breath, his hand coming to caress my cheek, I felt myself melt against him.

"Katniss..." he breathed before his lips touched mine. It was a feather kiss. Intimate. Like he was afraid I would bolt. When I didn't run, he pressed a bit harder bringing us closer together. The heat from his body wrapping me into his warm embrace. Pushing me slowly into the wall, we steadied ourselves. A hunger begin to grow within me, the same one that I had started to feel in the cave, and I knew it was going to be hard to contain ourselves if we let go. Resting my hands on his broad chest, it was quite a while before he broke the kiss.

We didn't say anything, but he took me by the hand and led me to my bed. After I climbed in, I ached to kiss him again. Tugging him down to sit, our fingers caressing, I leaned forward as he captured my lips again. This time with more gusto; like he wanted it more. Pulling him closer to me, my mouth parted. As our tongues touched, gentle moans escaped us. A fire shooting down our spines, a hunger that was clawing its way to the surface. Giving into it, Peeta pushed us back onto my bed, hovering gently over me. Inching his way on top of me, his hands coming to rest on my hips, my hands playing in his hair. As the kiss deepened, breathing became a bit harder to control. I had never felt like this. Not even when Gale kissed me, nor any of the times Peeta and I have kissed for the cameras.

His hands began trailing my hips till I felt his fingers brush skin. My body electrified around us and it was destined to consume us. My body arched into him as I felt every inch of him tremble. Reaching under his shirt, my fingers skimmed his upper back. I wanted more but hesitation swept over me. Breaking the kiss, I felt his lips trail down my neck slowly. Leaving me breathless.

"Peeta!" I gasped lightly feeling his tongue sweep my pulse point. My heart racing as he continued to kiss my neck.

"Katniss..." I heard him moan my name, "we... have...to stop."

I didn't want to. Goodness knows I didn't. I wanted to feel his hands on me. Touching me everywhere before he took me. Kissing me one last time, he lifted himself off me, the warmth of his body gone. Leaving me cold and alone. He didn't looked at me for a minute. Like he was trying to get himself under control.

"I need to get home." He sighed as if he didn't want to leave. I nodded at him, not trusting my voice. Afraid if I opened my mouth, I would ask him to stay. Stay in my bed, keeping me warm, safe and incredibly vulnerable to his touch.

He nodded at me and started to leave. Leaping off the bed, I followed him to my door. With one last look he disappeared from my sight. Sighing, I closed the door, my body trembling, my lips swollen and bruised from his kiss. How was I gonna handle seeing him later? We had training in the morning and I'm not sure if I could ignore him.

Laying back into bed, I knew it was going to be hard to sleep. As I laid there my mind wandered to earlier. How his lips and hands felt on me; how I craved for his touch. Rolling over, I tried to shut my brain down and force myself to sleep.

"Katniss, it's time for you to get up." I heard my mother whisper as she gently nudged me awake. Grudgingly, I nodded and pushed myself into sitting position. Handing me a cup of hot chocolate, I nodded at her gratefully before she left. Never saying a word about last night. Did she know what happened? I don't think she knew, I hoped.

Taking a sip, the caffeine startling my senses awake. My brain clearing away the fog. I sat there for a moment, thinking about the day ahead. Consisting of running for several miles, practice with my bow, and who knows what other things our handlers had in mind. Closing my eyes, my mind drifted back to last night. Peeta kissing me, touching me, chasing away all my fears. My body trembled as I stood up to find clothes.

Slipping them on, I had to steady myself as a wave of desire raced down my spine. My thoughts were consumed of him. How in the Hell was I gonna get through today? Sunlight peeking through my window reminding me that I was late. Cursing softly to myself, I raced down the stairs and out of the house without saying goodbye to anyone. Catching up with everyone, who were already stretching, I quickly made my apologies and begin stretching.

Minutes went by and soon we were running. Peeta and I keeping the same stride. I kept my eyes averted from his. I couldn't face him after last night. Once this was over today, I was going to hide away from him...like forever. Of course, Charlotte knew something was up when I kept missing easy shots with my bow. I managed to scale the hard ones but the easy ones seemed to elude me. I noticed that Peeta seemed to keep his stride all morning. I hated him for that.

When training finally came to a close, I skipped out on the conversation and hurried to my house like a scared mouse. It was easier to face my fears during the Games than it was outside the arena. Here, life was real; not some concoction made up by psychotic game-makers.

Showering quickly, I idly moseyed my way around the house, then through the Hob...where I knew I wouldn't find Peeta.

My days went like this for several days. I smothered what I could of my nightmares the best I could. All just to avoid Peeta and his kisses. I think he knew I was having them by the look in his eyes, but he didn't make another move to try and care for me. Like that night never happened. Charlotte approached me several days after the kiss, trying to squeeze information out of me. I wasn't sure if I wanted to tell her. I knew she would try to push me further with Peeta, but it that kind of closeness to someone left me ambivalent. I craved it, but the thought of it terrified me. So, I didn't tell her. My moment of solitude was coming to a close, I knew it.

As the seasons changed, the game in the woods started to become sparse. It didn't matter to me, but each haul I brought in made the difference in someone's day. Children and adults starving each and every day was a disgrace to how the Capital treated its citizens. I would leave a bag with Hazelle and send the rest to the Hob or for those in town that wanted meats.

Hiding away in the woods kept me busy. Kept me away from Peeta. Kept me away from all the feelings that were dangerously close to erupting. No one bothered me. Gale would occasionally try to coax a smile from me. My surly demeanor was evident to those closest to me. After a couple of Sundays with him, he gave up trying.

"I don't know why I try Katniss..." he started

"I didn't know you were trying Gale." I said snidely. He would just sigh and leave me alone. Even Charlotte knew something was amiss with me. Unlike everyone else, she pestered me until I yelled at her to leave me alone. I will never forget the look she gave me before she stormed off too.