I'm so very sorry that it's late!

kpkpkpkpkp

What she does instead is help Peeta. When he's ready, she gathers up her stuff. They are silent as the plane starts to descend, and in just a moment, the bump of the wheels hitting the tarmac reminds her that this brief moment of time with him, is now over.

They are still moving when Rollie comes over to them. She whispers, "I'm going to let you two off first, so you can get Duke here outside. If you will go to the gate attendant, she will point you in the right direction."

"Thank you," Peeta offers.

She pats him on the shoulder. "It's the least I can do. Thank you for your service, Marine."

True to her word, Rollie does let them up and out first. It takes Duke a moment to stretch out, but the wag of his tail tells her that he is happy to be on solid ground again.

Katniss doesn't even have to ask, when the attendant is guiding them to a metal door down the short hallway. "Do you want to walk him, or do you want me to?" She asks.

"I'll walk him. I need to stretch my leg- I should have taken my prosthesis off, but I didn't want to bother you," his voice dips at the end of his statement.

"Peeta!" She fusses. "Do not be ashamed of what happened to you." She pushes the door open as the first breath of fresh air fills her lungs, she wants to run. But instead, she says, "Go ahead, Sergeant. I'll hold the door for you."

She stretches, and watches as he lets Duke lead him across the lot. Her eyes roam around, taking in the back of the airport. "I hope the rest of you is better than this," she mutters.

"Did you say something?" He asks from several feet away.

"I forgot how well you hear." He shakes his head at her, and she says, "I just hope that the rest of London is nicer than this."

"It's been a while since I've been here—it's like any other city. It's the countryside that's worth coming to see."

"When were you here?"

He approaches her, and she opens the door wider. Duke leads him in, and when she lets the door close behind them, he continues, "I had some meetings here once. I had a couple of days to explore, and had to go see some of the big manor houses." He pauses, and holds out his hand, palm side up.

Thump-thump-flip.

She puts her hand in his, and Duke leads them. "Did you check in any baggage?"

"I did, even though I didn't want to. Since I didn't know what I was going to be doing, I packed probably more than I should have. Did you?"

"I did, even though I was told that everything would be taken care of," she admits.

"You know, I was told the same thing?"

"Are we following the signs that say passport control?"

"Did you not listen to the pilot?" Her face heats up. "Yes, go there," he teases.

"Whatever," she quips. "get your papers ready, Sergeant."

He stops behind her, and swings the backpack off his shoulders. His hand snakes in, and easily pulls out a plastic envelope. "It's all right here."

"I'm glad that someone is more organized than I am." She steps back, and guides him into the line. "Go ahead. I want to stay behind you in case you need me." He starts to say something, but the tired woman behind the glass meets her eyes. "Go, Peeta, she's waiting for you."

Duke leads him, and Peeta reaches the agent with an outstretched hand. She hears the lady ask, "Welcome to the UK. Are you visually impaired?"

"I am," he admits as he hands her the plastic envelope.

Katniss steps back, wanting to give them some privacy, but wanting to be close. She can make out some words but not everything. Then the woman waves her over.

"Can I see your passport?" Katniss obeys, and the woman continues, "Sergeant Mellark says that you trained this dog?" She just waits long enough for Katniss' nod. "This is one of the best-behaved assistant dogs I've seen. Thank you for your hard work."

She's never been one to go seeking praise for simply doing her job, so the woman's kind words make her face heat. She mutters, "Thank you."

The smile she gives them, makes her look not so tired. "Enjoy your stay in the UK."

"That was neat and weird all at the same time," Katniss says as they are walking down the hallway. "Don't we go get our luggage next?"

"Yep, then customs."

"Here comes the luggage. What does your bag look like?"

"It's a bright—"

"Orange one?" She finishes for him.

"Do you see it?"

"Yeah," she pauses and grabs it off the belt. "Can I ask you something?" She asks as she sets it down at his feet. "Watch out, your bag is right there."

"Yeah, what is it?"

"What would you have done if I hadn't been at the airport?"

His chuckle is harsh and she wants to take away his bitterness. "Rely on the kindness of strangers?"

"Peeta," she whispers as she gets her bag off next. "At least Duke is helping?"

"He's the best ever," he agrees and the big, black lab wags his tail at the mention of his name. "You did a good job training him."

"I'm just doing my job," she mutters.

"How did you get into training?" He asks.

An airport attendant brings them a luggage cart. She is quiet while she loads their bags. When she is done, she says, "We have nothing to declare—so I think we are done." His hand wraps around her elbow reminding her how when he touches her, she feels it all over.

Thump-thump-flip.

"I'm actually a dog groomer," she offers as they walk slowly down the hallway. "When I started, I would groom service dogs for free. Well when Finnick, my boss, found out he offered me a job. He was able to match my best paying week in a shop, so I figured why not."

"I'm glad you did."

"I am too." She clears her throat, "Where are you meeting your ride?"

"I think they said at the meeting place outside terminal two?"

A weird tingle dances down her spine. "Strange. That's where I'm meeting mine." They walk through the double doors. Standing there, holding a poster board sign reading both Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark is a man who could only be in a designer suit. Not that she's sure, all she knows is that it probably costs more than everything she has on her or in her luggage. She stops in her tracks. "And there he is."

"Who is it?" Peeta whispers. That is the que for Duke to be on guard mode.

"My guess is he's a driver." She pats his fingers that are still attached to her elbow. "Let's go see?"

"Let's go." They approach the man slowly. She supposes that he would be considered handsome by some, but since she met the blond trailing by her side at the moment, she knows that no one else will ever measure up. She can't tell his hair color by the cap but his eyes, they never leave her or Peeta.

His brows raise until they disappear under the brim of the chauffeur's cap. "Ms. Everdeen? Mr. Mellark?"

"That's us," she admits. "And you are?"

His smile is slight, but easy. "My name is Sam. I was sent by Ms. Trinket to pick you up and take you to The Ritz. Can I help you with your bags?"

"Ms. Trinket?" Peeta echoes.

"The Ritz?" Katniss repeats. "That's where we are going?"

Before she can go into full panic mode, he's taking her hand. "Hey Sam?" Peeta asks.

The chauffeur stops and turns. "Yes, sir?"

"We have a breakfast date we need to keep."

Thump-thump-flip.

"—can you take us to a diner that serves omelets? It seems that I owe Ms. Everdeen a Denver one," Peeta finishes.

"Ms. Trinket isn't expecting you for a while, and I know just the place. My car awaits."

They follow Sam who leads them outside. "We're outside now. Sam is leading us to a Lincoln with blacked out windows."

"This feels so surreal, but in a good way."

She laughs while Peeta climbs in the waiting car. Once Duke is in, she goes to sit down too, but before she can, Sam says, "I think you'll enjoy what the next couple of days have in store for you, Ms. Everdeen."

"I hope so, because I still have no idea who your, 'Ms. Trinket' is."

Sam smiles and she slides in the car. He waits for her to put her feet in before he shuts the door behind her. "Hello Duke," she greets the pup who is sitting on the seat between her and Peeta. "I know you are more than ready for a long run, in a wide-open space."

"There are several parks around The Ritz where you can take him," Sam supplies from the front.

"Can you take us?" Peeta asks.

"Do you want to go there before or after breakfast?" Sam asks.

"Let's go eat," Peeta says. "I'm hungry, and I know he is too."

"Yes, sir," comes from the front.

Katniss watches as he merges into traffic, and observes to Peeta, "this is so weird."

He leans towards her voice, bumping Duke in the process. "Sorry, boy. Lay down." Duke obeys and curls up in between them. When Peeta can reach her, he continues, "Why do you say that?"

"He's driving on the wrong side of the road."

"We are in England."

"I know," she chuckles. "I'm trying to not watch."

"You should try driving on the wrong side of the road."

"You keep mentioning all these trips. I'm starting to think that there's a lot about you that I don't know."

"You just met me in October, remember?"

Thump-thump-flip. How can she forget?

"Yes, I remember," she giggles.

His brow raises. "I've never heard you giggle before."

She runs her hands through her still loose hair. "I bet I look a sight." Her face heats as he turns his head towards her. She stammers, "I only giggle when I'm really tired."

"You'll feel better once you've eaten."

"Then what?"

"Then what, what?"

"What happens when we get to The Ritz?"

He reaches for her hand, and she meets his over Duke. The big dog exhales into their joined touch. "I think I know who this, 'Ms. Trinket' might be."

"Who is she?"

"Effie Trinket. We went to school together. Well it's more than that, actually."

"More?"

"Our moms are best friends. We may have taken more than one bath together—but remember, we were two, maybe three."

"Aww. That's sweet."

"There were good parts and bad ones." he says. "effie and her mother came to see me in the hospital when I back." he exhales loudly then says, "it will be good to see them again."

The car starts to slow down, and Sam takes a couple of turns. "This place has all day breakfast."

"Thank you, Sam," Peeta says. "See, I told you I'll feed you."

"Yes, you did."