"Hey Peeta? You might want to come take a look at this." I sigh and toss the piping bag aside.

"If you want me to finish this wedding cake for you and Delly, you'd better let me work." My brother glares at me from the couch.

"You'll finish it because you know Delly will kill us both if you don't."

"You let her wear the pants in this relationship," I snort.

My house has been overtaken by everything wedding-related and since my brother is marrying my best friend, I can't really protest to it.

We discovered Whitley was alive while we were traveling, years ago. Whitley had a thing for Delly when we were younger and he asked if he could take her out. I prefer not to think about how one thing led to another but when they announced their engagement I was genuinely happy for them. Since he's come back, Whitley and I have gotten closer. We were always pretty close until the Games. He felt guilty for not volunteering in my place and as the second-born, he felt like he had to live up to Mom's expectations a lot more than Rye did. We've settled in District 5, both Whitley and I opening up a bakery together with Delly running the business side of it. We've become pretty popular and I'm thankful that I'm not mobbed by the press anymore; the 'star-crossed lovers' business died down after I left 12 and people hardly rush up to me on the street anymore. Dare I say life is semi-normal. I can't help but miss her but she did give me a chance to heal and have a normal life.

"What can I say, when you're in love, you act like a stupid fool," he laughs. I'm quiet and he knows he's crossed a line. We don't talk about love. He knows how painful it is. How I still think about-

"Peet, I'm sorry, I didn't mean-"

"It's fine," I say quickly, not wanting to get into it with him. "What did you want me for?"

"This," he gestures to the TV, looking wary, and I turn in time to see huge red letters flashing on the screen.

DEATH OF THE MOCKINGJAY?

I fall to my knees, reaching out to grip the couch.

"No," I barely whisper. I shake my head as they display a picture of Katniss, pleading to whoever might be listening that it's not true.

"Our team continues to look into the disappearance of Katniss Everdeen. Sources say she fled District 12 after her exile was lifted by President Paylor and that she never returned. Though foul play was ruled out, now almost 3 years later, sources are saying something likely happened to the Mockingjay. Armed forces have been asking questioning those close to Everdeen and Victor Haymitch Abernathy, Everdeen's former mentor, refused to speak to press until this afternoon. His confession that he thinks something has happened to her has shaken the country."

"Katniss and I always had a complicated relationship but I knew her well. And I know she wouldn't just disappear when she has people who love her. Something happened to her. I just don't know what or when."

Haymitch's face disappears and the news reporter comes back on, talking about the last time people saw Katniss. He goes on to say she is now presumed dead and a candlelight vigil is being held. Videos of people in different districts flash by, all with pained looks on their faces. I find it harder to breathe and I clutch my stomach.

Whitley watches me anxiously and bites his lip.

"Peet?" I feel dizzy and wish the room would just stop spinning.

"Hey Del, can you come in here?"

"What's…Peeta!" My best friend kneels in front of me and strokes my hair.

"What is it? Peeta what's wrong?"

"Katniss…dead," is all I can get out. She turns to Whitley, confused.

"The news is saying she's been missing for ages and that she's probably dead," he says quietly.

"Oh Peeta," she says, flinging her arms around me. Whitley joins her, his scarred arms wrapping around me tightly. It doesn't help the violent trembling that's overtaken my body.

"Delly let him up, we're suffocating him." They pull me to my feet and I grip the couch to steady myself.

"Peeta forget the cake for now. You should go and rest."

"Rest," I repeat. "Your wedding is tomorrow."

"Exactly. You need to sleep. Whitley can work on the cake. He was a baker too, after all."

"Excuse me. Was? I'm still a baker, Ms. Cartwright and a damned fine one." She giggles and leans up to kiss his nose.

"I know you are. So help your brother out," she hisses. She gently pats my shoulder and leaves, no doubt to finish last minute details. Whitley stands in front of me and sighs.

"I really am sorry, Peeta. I know you never stopped loving her."

"She just can't be…it can't be true."

"All good ones meet their end. Even the Mockingjay."

"Don't say things like that," I snap. He holds up his hands and takes a step back.

"Delly is right; you need rest. Go on and get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning." I sigh and rub the back of my neck.

"Go on, Peeta," he gives me a sad smile and I back out of the room.


I head to my bedroom but I don't get dressed for bed. I grab the phone and dial the number from memory.

"Lo?"

"So when the hell were you going to tell me she's dead?"

"Peeta?"

"Who else would it be," I growl. "You don't think I had a right to know? You think I wouldn't see it all over the news? Why wouldn't you tell me?"

"Peeta calm down. I swear it's just speculation. The damn reporters keep coming to the Village and asking and I just finally said I haven't seen her."

"No Haymitch, you said you're sure something happened to her. You think she's dead."

"I don't think that. I think something happened to her, something to keep her from coming back to 12 but I don't know what that could be. She could have gotten hurt or gotten a job or met someone or built a house…any number of reasons she hasn't come back! I don't think she's dead. Not really."

"Candlelight vigils are being held for her all over Panem," I say thickly. "What are you going to say if she shows up in a store one day?"

"Surprise, she's alive." My eyes narrow at his cheek.

"You're a smart ass," I spit into the phone.

"And you're calling me at two in the morning. If you want some information on sweetheart, why don't you call her mother? She'd know more than I would!" Frustrated, I slam the phone down and collapse on my bed.


That night, I make plans. After the wedding, I'm leaving for 4 to talk to Mrs. Everdeen and find out what happened to Katniss. I won't tell Delly or Whitley; I know they'd just try to convince me not to go. Delly, who once defended Katniss fiercely, has tried to convince me over the years that I need to forget about her. That I'm better off without her. Try as I might, I can't forget about her. That last night together replays in my mind and is the main reason I have barely dated. Katniss remains to be the only woman I've ever slept with; the one time I have come remotely close, all I could think about was the way her grey eyes sparkled or the way her braid felt in my hands. The sound of her voice and the scowl she would give nearly everyone she came into contact with. The way she whimpered my name and the way her back arched off the bed when she came. I apologized profusely and went straight home, where Whitley got me absurdly drunk. No one will ever compare to my grey-eyed huntress.

My brother is right; I've never stopped loving Katniss Everdeen. Despite the fact that she broke my heart, she still holds it in her palm. I know she's alive and I'm going to find her.


NOW what do you guys think? ;) A little twist huh? Sorry this is so short! I'm in the process of moving and it's my last week at work so it's insanely busy! I'll try to post another this weekend!

XOXO