Hello to all my dear readers. I'm so sorry that it took so long to update this story, but temporarily lost my inspiration. However, you all gave it back to me with your wonderful reviews. So I want to thank: hutcherwife, iamastar, she with the hazel eyez, geekypenguin, shloh, enginette, LittleRedDevilKat, Esyla, the killer tigeress, scoco, Dra9onf7yz, FelicisEcho9988, Theswimmergirlonfire, ladii love, geranium08, catchingfire0621, Arriane Malum, CharlottalovesPeetaMelark, marulk, , and axemama for all of your wonderful reviews. Also my thanks to all of you who favorite my story!

Anyways here is the next chapter, sorry it isn't super long. Hopefully the next one will be longer! Reviews are appreciated.

The next day is awkward. No one talks. Cato spends most of his time shut up in his room. He only comes out for breakfast. Effie tries to make conversation over the table, but no one is really in the mood. Haymitch is drunk. Cato simply eats his food in silence and then disappears back to his rooms. I have no desire to try and engage either of them in conversation, so I just let Effie go on about some ridiculous capitol trend involving blue feathers.

After breakfast I too return to my room, were I sit on the edge of my bed, too nervous to do much more than stare out the window. The excitement of returning to district 12 which has been building inside me ever since I got out of the arena is finally beginning to bubble over. I allow it to take over my mind, and briefly indulge in fantasies of hunting with Gale in the woods, and sitting with Prim in the evenings, watching the sunset over the seam. I think of my mother. When I left I was worried that I would die without ever making amends for how I'd treated her, now I could finally put it right. I'll get to see our old house again, even if we won't be living there, because the capitol will give us a new house in the victor's village. I revel in thoughts of district 12 for a few more minutes, before I think of something that has eluded me before, something horrible that I know I'll have to face: Peeta's family. How will I explain it to them, why Peeta is not coming back with me, why his murder is? These are things I have to deal with, but the effort of coming to terms with it might break me.

I hope that once I'm home, with my family I'll be able to forget the Hunger Games. I'll be able to forget the horror of the arena, the blood on my hands. But I know I won't, they have been burned into me. And besides, Snow has made sure I will never forget. Isn't that why Cato is here? To remind me, to make sure some part of me remains trapped in the games. To remind me that I cannot escape.

I am pondering this when the train begins to slow. I leap up all worries temporarily forgotten. I am going to see Prim, and my mother, and Gale, and everyone else I care about. The train has come to a complete stop by the time I reach the main compartment. Effie and Haymitch are waiting there for me. Cato is there too, looking grim. I know he is angry about having to come to district 12 instead of home to 2. But for the moment I ignore him, this is my moment. Finally the door slides open, as I step out onto the small train platform, a cheer escapes from the crowd. Most of district 12 has gathered to welcome me home. Then Cato steps out onto the platform, there is some polite applause but it's clear that the crowd is confused. Why is he here? Many of them are probably wondering. Then I see her: Prim. She is being born through the crowd atop Gales shoulders. I beam, and Prim waves to me, a see my mother to trailing behind them, and even Madge grinning broadly.

The crowd parts before me as I rush to embrace Prim, who Gale has put down. Another cheer goes up. Then I hung Gale tightly.

"Thank you." I whisper. Then I see my mother standing unsurely behind Prim and Gale. I don't hug her, but I give her my most sincere smile, wanting her to know how happy I am to see her. Then I see Gale's face harden, and I look back to see that Cato has come up behind me. However, there is no time for introductions now. I have to go and say goodbye to Effie, who is once again boarding the train.

After the train has begun to move again, I rejoin my family. Haymitch has disappeared; probably back to his house where he can get drunk in peace. Cato is still standing moodily slightly apart from my family. Gale is eyeing him with a dislike and distain that worries me. I don't like Cato any more than he does, less in fact, but I know that, at least in front of the camera's, we all have to act as though we get along. I drag Cato over to my family, giving him my best evil glare.

" Mom, Prim, This is Cato."

"Cato, this is my mother, and little sister Prim."

Prim smiles, "Nice to meat you." Cato doesn't smile back. Then, my mom in the lead, we head towards the victors village. I've never been there before, although I've looked at it and imagined what it would be like to live there plenty of times. Now we are. My mom leads us through all the grand empty houses to one that looks slightly more lived in. Apparently as soon as I won, they were moved into this nice new house. Prim happily gives me a little tour. It's much nicer than I could ever have imagined. I even get my own bedroom. Cato is still following behind, and something about his presence annoys me. This should be my time with my family.

My mom shows him to the bedroom down the hall, and he slams the door in her face. She looks rather affronted. I wish he would go away, at least not be staying in our house. Supposedly another house will be prepared for him, but until it's ready he has to stay with us.

I go to the living room where I sit with Prim on the couch. She tells me about everything that happened while I was gone. Apparently Greasy Sae and a lot of others made a fund to sponsor me during the games. I am deeply in their debt. It's one thing for capitol citizens to sponsor a tribute, they are rolling in money, but here people need that money to survive. I am touched.

Also the capitol has put the story out that Gale and I are cousins. When a tribute makes it to the top eight they interview their friends and family. Gale is really one of my only friends, and as I was still playing the romance with Peeta, it wouldn't do for people in the capitol to think there was something between us.

"It seems like even some of the people here have bought the story!" Prim tells me cheerfully, "Even though they've know both of you forever."

"Everything seems to have changed now." I tell her.

"I'm just glad your back."

"So am I little duck." I smile at her, and she rests her head on my lap. Then my mother comes in.

"Katniss, someone is at the door for you." She doesn't say who but her lips are pursed so I know she's nervous. Instead I pick myself up off the couch and stride over to the door. On the other side I find myself face to face with what I've been dreading since we boarded the train to come home: the baker. I quietly shut the door behind me.

I look up into his broad face, and all the guilt, and sorrow of Peeta's death comes flooding back. "I'm so sorry." I whisper.

He just knods.

"It was my fault he died, I'm sorry."

Then he says something that catches me completely unawares. "Thank you."

I stare dumbstruck for a few seconds. "Why are you thanking me? This is all my fault!"

He shrugs and begins to walk away, then turns to look back at me. "Because of you, no one will ever forget him. Thank you."