Mockingjay: Broken Wings

by Jamie Sommers

A/U Katniss and Peeta are married, expecting a baby. Peeta's unsure of Katniss after the things he's seen while being held prisoner. Is she still trustworthy? With a traitor in the rebellion who can Katniss turn to? Haymitch, after all the secrets he's kept? Gale, who's loyalty lies with President Coin? Or will Peeta open up his heart to her again? Sequel to CF: Rekindling

10. Home

Mockingjay: Broken Wings

By: Jamie Sommers

Chapter Nine: Home

Previously a propos was viewed by our little band of rebels in the Capitol, however with Peeta's memory loss, hearing he was married and expecting a baby came as a surprise to him. Katniss had discovered a section of Thirteen that was blocked off, and Effie had a plan to get Peeta to safety.

Sorry for the delay with this chapter but it was a HUGE one for me. There's a song in here, no I did not write it, but I did alter it for the sake of the story. The name of the song...The Story. There was a particular version of it that I listened to while writing this chapter, and I encourage you to listen (Posted on my tumblr page) while reading the K/P portion of this. The end of this chapter was bugging me for awhile...I wasn't sure how I was going to do it, then inspiration struck and I let myself write without thinking (Kind of like Peeta told Katniss to do in my story) I should follow my own advice more often. I hope you enjoy this chapter. It was a brutal one for me and it is exceptionally long. Maybe too long. I really need to stop doing that. I had a lot to say, I just hope you don't mind listening. Thank you for your reviews, but most of all for reading.

Thank you so much S and A for all of your dedication and work. Seriously...I sent this chapter to them more than once. I am so not worthy!

If you want to keep up to date with what's going on...where I am with a chapter...the way my brain works, please follow me on tumblr. jamiesommers23 dot tumblr dot com.

The moment you've been waiting for has finally arrived in...

Mockingjay: Broken Wings

Johanna looked around the posh Capitol quarters. "Where the hell are we?"

"Shut it, Mason," the Peacekeeper ordered as they entered the residency of Effie Trinket. "Move," he spoke forcefully to Portia, Johanna and Peeta. "Sit."

"Should I roll over and beg too?" Johanna asked sarcastically as she plopped down on the sofa next to the rest of her rebel friends.

"Please, keep your comments to yourself, Johanna," Effie gave her a curt look of warning.

"Checking residency," Mr. Tanner spoke into the band on his wrist, pulled out Effie's computer from beneath his vest and lifted his finger to cover his lips, telling the group to stay silent as he walked from room to room holding the computer out, scanning them. "All clear," he spoke into his wrist. "There are guards posted at ten feet intervals surrounding your quarters, Miss. Trinket, so no funny stuff," he glared at Johanna. There was dead silence in the room, no one moved a muscle. "I said the room is all clear. Go ahead and do...whatever it is you people do." He took his stance next to a large window.

"What does all clear mean, Mr. Tanner?" Effie asked.

"I scanned your room for hidden surveillance. There is none."

"How the hell'd ya know that?" Johanna stood up and walked to the table laden with food, looking it over as if it were unreal.

"That computer of Miss. Trinket's," he answered without giving away too much information.

Effie gave him a curious stare. "My computer has that capability?"

"Yes."

Peeta pierced the man with his narrow glare, "Are you a rebel or something?"

Steven glared back, "No."

"Then what the hell are you, because you're not like any Peacekeeper I've ever met." Johanna ran her fingers over a bump on her freshly shaved head. "They're not very..." she did an impression of her old escort Bitsy, "...well mannered." She grabbed a plate and thought, 'To hell with it. I'm eating.' She took notice of the lack of utensils and paper products that were set out. There was nothing to use as a weapon. "Well?" she asked with a mouthful of bread. "You gonna answer or what?" She directed the question to the Peacekeeper.

"Effie," Portia said with a tremble in her voice that had never been there before. "Why are we here?"

"Why don't you all make up a plate of something to eat? Nothing too rich. I don't want you getting ill." Effie offered, "I'm making tea if anyone wants a cup."

"I want some answers," Johanna piled some more food onto a plate and placed some thin slices of beef next to it. "Why the hell are we here and who the hell is this guy?" She thumbed towards Steven.

"President Snow hasn't had the success he'd been hoping for questioning all of you individually, so he thought getting you together...providing you with a sense of, 'false security,' he called it, would enable you to be free with information regarding the rebellion," Effie explained. "He's expecting me to go back with some sort of information," Effie pondered. "I'll have to make something up." She paused, "Portia, you are to prep Peeta for his upcoming interview with Caesar and Johanna you're here because..." Effie faltered.

"I'm here so Snow can keep Peeta in line during his little talk with Flickerman," Johanna put her plate on the table and held her still cuffed hands up to the guard. "Hey Hagar, what do you say you set me free?"

"What do you say, I don't," he replied.

Johanna pierced him with an evil glare. "Okay, that explains why the three of us are here. Now explain tall, dark and dirt bag over here."

"Please," Effie stepped between Steven and Johanna who were glaring at one another until Johanna took a seat. "Johanna, he's my personal guard, and to answer your question Peeta, Mr. Tanner is not a rebel. He is here to protect me...to help me."

"Even if that means he might get caught and tortured?" Peeta asked in disbelief.

"Yes," Steven answered. "That might be hard for those of you that would sell your soul for a piece of bread, but yes, I am willing to do what I must to ensure her safety."

"Sell your soul for a piece of bread?" Johanna jumped up from her spot and got in his face. "Look who's talking. You might be able to fool some people, but I know where you're from. I know you're not Capitol born. You're from Two. Bred to sell your soul to the people of the Capitol so you won't have to work in the quarries."

Steven lifted the corner of his mouth in a grin. "Man, it would've been fun if I had been in the arena with you. There's no way you would've gotten out alive."

"You think you could've taken me?" Johanna stood toe to toe with the man. "Keep dreaming."

"Enough," Effie barked. "You two aren't helping by bickering back and forth with one another." She turned to Portia who hadn't moved from her spot on the sofa. "Portia?" Effie paused and took note of how thin she had gotten. The blank look in her eyes which were no longer accentuated with false lashes. The gold hair that no longer held its sparkle and had grown in brown at the roots. "Dear," Effie bent in front of her and took her hands in hers, "What have they been doing to you?"

She shook her head a bit, "Nothing I can't handle.." Her eyes finally met Effie's. "You said I'm supposed to prepare Peeta for an interview?" She made to stand, "I should get my things together."

"Sit dear," Effie patted her hand. "Your trade tools have been brought here, but first you must eat darling."

"I don't think I can," Portia said quietly. "It's been awhile since I've been able to eat anything more than a few bites. They..." her voice caught in her throat, "...they don't feed me very often anymore."

"Portia," Peeta's voice was tender as he reached out to her. "You need your strength. I can take care of myself...shower...hair...I know how to groom myself. Effie's right, you've got to eat."

"What are they doing to you, Peeta?" Portia squeezed her hand around his. "You look so beaten...worn."

His eyes darted around the room. "Effie says they're drugging me, but I don't know what's happening anymore."

"I'm being used as a human tea bag if anyone's interested," Johanna said sarcastically.

"Oh my," Effie's fingers went to her throat. "I fear we're not doing very well considering we're the rebel's last hope in the Capitol."

"Who said we were their last hope?" Johanna said completely unaffected by Peeta and Portia's morose mood. "You think we don't have more people here?"

"There's more?" Steven stepped forward. "Look Miss. Trinket, I agreed to help get you and Peeta out of here, but I cannot approve of rebel's planning the downfall of the Capitol while in my presence. Other than you, my loyalties lie with the Capitol, helping the rebels take it over wasn't part of our deal."

"Then get the hell out of here," Johanna gave him a dirty look. "In fact, here's a great idea...how about dropping dead? I, myself, find that to be the perfect way for you to avoid this topic of conversation."

"Know what I always liked about you, Mason?" Mr. Tanner walked slowly up to her, "Your fight. I just wish I was the one that had gotten chosen that year you went into the arena."

"Oh, what's wrong?" Johanna made a pouty face, "Didn't have the balls to volunteer like all the rest of your idiot friends?"

"No, I volunteered, but Wondra was chosen instead."

"Wondra was a complete moron." Johanna snarled at the Peacekeeper. "Took him out on day three."

"If it had been me in the arena, you would've been the one taken out on day three," Steven glared. "In fact, you would have been lucky to make it past the initial bloodbath."

"I wasn't in the bloodbath brainless," Johanna said it like she was speaking to a dolt. "Think I was dumb enough to stick around for that shit?"

"Think I fell for that weak little girl routine? I would have gotten you before you made it ten feet past your platform," he stepped closer to her bringing them nose to nose.

"I would've buried an axe in your skull," her nostrils flared, her eyes glistened with excitement.

"You could have tried." He said as though he was enjoying his verbal sparing with her.

"I'd be happy to try right now," Johanna's lip twitched in pleasure.

"Bring it, Mason."

"Uncuff me, Hagar."

"Not that I'm not enjoying your barbaric ways of flirting, but could we please get back on track?" Effie spoke with pursed lips.

"Flirting?" Johanna spit out. "That woman's wig is too tight." She sat back down and sipped at a glass of water.

Steven resumed his stance next to the window. "I'm going to have to agree with Mason. Wouldn't waste my time on someone like her."

"Too much woman for ya?" Johanna bit into a piece of meat with gusto.

"Woman? Hah. The only thing womanly about you are those two bumps sticking out of you," he pointed to her breasts.

"That's right...you're from Two. You prefer your woman with pointy, gold tipped teeth." Johanna made a chomping motion at him.

"Mr. Tanner, if you wouldn't mind leaving the room, I would appreciate it," Effie asked politely in an attempt to break up the sparing.

"Don't think that would be too wise, Miss. Trinket. I'm not leaving you alone with these people," Steven stayed in place. "You want to talk, go ahead, but I'm not going anywhere."

"Mr. Tanner, I need to speak with them in regards to some private matters, and as you said, discussion of the rebellion's efforts was not part of our deal," Effie made her way towards him. "They won't harm me. They're my friends."

Mr. Tanner grit his teeth as he considered what he was about to do. "I don't like this, Miss. Trinket." His eyes waned towards Johanna, "And I don't trust her worth a damn."

"Because you're so trustworthy," Johanna rolled her eyes at the man and headed for the table full of food.

"Don't eat so much," Steven warned her. "You'll get sick to your stomach."

Johanna let her shoulders drop and said, "I'm making a plate for Portia, so mind your own business and shut the hell up."

"Please!" Effie hollered. "You two are wasting precious time." She turned back towards Steven. "All I ask is for fifteen minutes. Can you please give us that?"

He looked around at the people in the room. Portia who was accepting a plate with a slice of bread and beef on it. Peeta who looked like he didn't know where he was or what he was doing there, and Johanna full of rage. "Ten minutes. You've got ten minutes. I need to look over this computer anyway." He took a step towards Johanna who was sitting down again. "Try anything, and I'll put a bullet through your brain."

"Oooh, I'm shaking," she said with wide eyes and sarcasm dripping from her voice. "You better hurry up and get out of here Hagar before Effie loses it over your flirtatious tactics." As he walked away Johanna threw a roll at his head. "Whoops. My bad."

Steven threw one more glare in Johanna's direction and said, "I'm timing you."

The second he was gone Effie rushed to Peeta's side. "I know you have questions about the recording the rebels played, but we don't have time to address them right now. I will explain everything to you when Mr. Tanner returns."

"So you can talk about Peeta in front of that guy, but not about the rest of us?" Johanna didn't understand what the hell was going on. "What's his deal? Is that guy serious about protecting you?"

Effie gave her head a little shake, "Believe it or not, he is, however, he is far from a rebel which means we must be very careful about the things we say in his presence. He has agreed to help get me and Peeta out of the Capitol, yet he will not help any of you. That will still be left up to me." Effie turned to Johanna. "You said we have others here? Who?"

Johanna leaned closer to the group who were completely focused on her. "Know the rumor about a higher up in the Capitol?" They all nodded, "Well, it's not a rumor. When you started that shit with Bettes, you pretty much secured our guy's cover," she said to Effie.

"I always assumed Plutarch was the higher up," Portia said quietly.

Johanna took a seat on the coffee table in front of the sofa so the group could speak more intimately. "Plutarch was never an official."

"We have an official on our side?" Effie said in surprise.

Johanna made a slight clucking noise with her tongue, "Yup."

"Does he know about my mother?" Peeta asked.

"What about her?" Johanna quirked her brow.

Effie gave Peeta's hand a pat, "He means me dear."

"Trinket your mother?" Johanna let out a burst of laughter. "Where there hell did you get the idea that she's your mother?"

Peeta's face took on a forlorn expression. "Oh yeah. You're not, are you?" He asked Effie.

"No dear," Effie took a seat right next to him. "But that doesn't mean I don't love you like a mother would love her son. Unfortunately President Snow knows how you feel about me, Peeta and he's planning on exploiting that."

"Is that why they said I was living in the capitol now?" Peeta asked. "So I'll be loyal to them?"

"Sweet mother," Johanna let out. "What the hell kind of crap are they doing to him?"

Effie lifted her fingers to her throat. "They call it hijacking. I tried to switch the drugs, but I fear I may have done more harm than good as Peeta's becoming addicted to the poison they're giving to him."

"Is that why I keep getting the shakes?" Peeta asked as he held his trembling hand out in front of him. "I can't stop them."

"Please forgive me, Peeta. I thought I was doing the right thing." Effie fought the urge to cry. "Now they're giving you the proper drugs and trying to wipe out your memories...replacing them with their own distorted version of your life, though I don't understand how."

"Son of a bitch," Johanna shook her head and ran her cuffed hands over her stubbly head. "That's why we couldn't get him to remember anything about Katniss. I knew they were drugging him, but today...Geez, he was like lump in his cell. Nothing I said was sparking any sort of recognition."

"We need to stop talking about me," Peeta didn't want to face these issues right now. He was still having a hard time with the fact that he had a wife and kid on the way which no one addressed. "We don't have much time before that guard is back."

"Peeta's right," Portia pinched a piece of beef off and placed it in her mouth. "You said something about an official, Johanna. Maybe Effie could find a way to get a message to him...talk to him...do something to help us out of here."

"I have a plan in place for that," Effie told them. "There's supposed to be a meeting with the officials soon. I've sent word to Haymitch about it, and told him about the underground railroad that leads to the jail cells."

"What the heck is an underground railroad?" Peeta asked.

"A network of tunnels that run through our nation. They were mainly focused in the south before the Dark Days, but were extended prior to the first uprising," Effie answered. "The one here in the Capitol leads from the Tribute Center to the jail, to my quarters...the president's residency... It's the answer to our prayers. I have done what I can with that computer to help Plutarch access the Capitol's broadcast network, but I know very little about it. I'm not even sure if they got my message about the meeting."

"You said Hagar was going to get you and Peeta out," Johanna leaned a little forward. "How?"

Guilt consumed Effie as she explained part of her plan to them, keeping the part about her not leaving to herself. "You must understand, I would take all of you if I could, but I can't. Even this plan with Peeta is precarious at best."

"Then why do it?" Peeta asked. "I don't want to leave the rest of you here. I...I can't do that."

"You have to," Portia rubbed his knee. "My sweet boy," she looked at him with tears in her eyes. "Don't you understand? All of us signed on for this. We're going through this so you can live. You must go if you have an opportunity to."

"Don't worry about us, Peeta," Johanna chimed in. "We'll be fine."

"Yes they will," Effie straightened her spine. "I will make sure of it."

"See?" Johanna gestured towards Effie, "She's gonna send in the rebel's army for us when she gets to Thirteen with you."

Effie cleared her throat. "I won't be going to Thirteen with him. I will be returning to the Capitol until the rebels come to break the rest of us out."

The entire group started to complain, speaking over one another until Johanna said, "Shut up." She paused. "Look, I'll admit I'm not your biggest fan Trinket, but you've got a shot to get the hell out of here...take it. You know more about the goings on in the Capitol than any of us do, so you're pretty damn important to this rebellion. Get the hell out, Effie."

Effie pursed her lips and said, "I shall leave when I can take you, Portia and Annie with me. Until then...it is of the utmost importance that Mr. Tanner believe I am leaving with Peeta or he will not help."

"Please don't' do this," Peeta begged her. "I don't know if I can go without you. Those rebels don't need me anyway. They've got Katniss," he went on a slight rant. "I'm useless to them in my condition and...and...how am I supposed to face Katniss if you're not there to tell me about her? I barely know her!"

"Peeta, the one thing you must be certain of, is that you and Katniss will always find your way back together." Effie smiled softly at him. "Nothing can keep you apart, dear. Not even a war."

"I'm not crazy about you staying, but hell..." Johanna smirked, "...if you get put in jail with us, at least we'll be reminded how to eat our moldy rations with manners." The group let out a bit of pathetic laughter. "Trinket, if you do this, you're going to need some time while you're in Twelve, and that army of Snow's are going to be right behind you and that...guy," she thumbed towards the spare bedroom where Steven was, "He can only do so much. Get to Thomas Hart. He may be able to help."

"Thomas Hart?" Effie's eyes grew huge. "He's one of us?"

"The man in charge of turning prisoners into Avox is a rebel?" Portia asked in disbelief. "Why didn't I know this?"

"The same reason you didn't know about Seneca Crane," Johanna said. "Had to keep his identity a secret. If you can reach him, he may be able to do something about delaying Snow's army from going in after you get to Twelve. He's not the only one we've got in the Capitol. You know about Carter Darlington, then there's..."

"Darlington's dead," Steven said as he entered the room. "Your ten minutes are up."

"Carter's dead?" Johanna stood up. "What the hell? Did Snow find out about him?"

Effie still wasn't sure what Carter was doing in the alley the night she killed Ianthe, but she remembered the gun Carter was holding. "I believe he along with his girlfriend, were both traitors to the rebellion."

"Darlington wasn't a traitor," Mr. Tanner said as he took up his military stance next to a window. "He had to go. The Capitol was going to be asking questions about the death of their spy, and he was the easiest to blame for it so I planted a gun on the guy after stabbing him."

"What?!" Effie stood up in a huff. "You mean you killed him to place the blame on him for something...I did."

"Whoa! Hold up a minute," Johanna was on her feet too. "You mean to tell me you killed a rebel spy," she pointed at Effie, "and you killed Darlington to cover Trinket's ass?" Her head fell back as she let out a roar of laughter. "Good God, you two are a hell of a pair. One risking her ass for the rebellion and this moron risking his neck for..." Johanna laughed again, "...Effie Trinket."

"Johanna," Peeta cut her short. "People are dead. I don't think we should be laughing about that."

"Big deal!" She snapped. "People die all the time. It's the world we live in. You should know better than most, Peeta." Her deranged laughter was gone and in its place anger. "Okay, so Darlington is gone. We still have others here. Two in medical, one in broadcast, none in defense, which sucks, but you can't have everything." Johanna sat back down then got up and began a somewhat frantic pace. "The point is, we're not alone."

"If I were you, I wouldn't mention any names," Mr. Tanner warned Johanna. "I didn't agree to keep rebel spies safe."

"What the hell do you call Trinket here?" Johanna spat out. "You're in just as deep as the rest of us Hagar, whether you like it or not." By the angry twitch on Steven's face, it was clear he wasn't very happy about her assessment. "Now, are you going to keep on spouting a bunch of Capitol crap or are you going to help?"

"I already agreed to get them out. We're going to Twelve, Effie will contact her...people," the way he said it made it sound like he was calling them dogs, "then I'll come back here and accept my punishment."

"So noble," Johanna rolled her eyes. "You're an idiot."

Steven Tanner had had enough of her verbal insults, "I'm the idiot? I'm not the one in cuffs, with my head shaved and bruises covering my body."

"No you're the one that put them there!" Johanna screeched. "Look around," she waved her cuffed hands in the air, "People like you are the ones doing this to us. Why? Because Snow wants you to." She sauntered up to him, her voice low and full of hate, "What's it like being his little bitch? Do something for ya?"

"Steven!" Effie shouted when he pulled his gun from its holster stopping him before he blew a hole through Johanna's brain as threatened. "You two must stop this right now," Effie said in a controlled tone. "Peeta," she turned to him, "eat something so you can prepare for the interview. Portia, I want you to rest. Lie down in the spare bedroom, and get some sleep. You look exhausted dear, and Johanna...Mr. Tanner...you two...stop talking. You're giving me a headache."

"The queen has spoken," Johanna lifted her cuffed hands to Steven. "Take these off. I'm going to bed with Portia."

"Isn't going to happen, Mason."

"One. Can you take off one of them? Geez! I want to lie down, not kill you." Johanna instantly corrected herself, "No. I do want to kill you, but it won't do me a bit of good right now, so..." she shoved her hands about an inch away from his face, "...what's wrong, Hagar? You afraid of a little girl from Seven?"

Mr. Tanner glared at her and unlocked one of the cuffs. "I really do wish we had been in the arena together. The amount of pleasure I would've gotten from slicing you in two..." he raised his brows and gave her an evil smile.

Johanna rolled her eyes, "It's always you dolts from Two that tell me shit like that. Brutus used to tell me how he would've skewered my head on a stick if he were in the arena with me." She rubbed at the mark on her wrist the handcuff had made. "Like my life being threatened was some sort of sick turn on."

"Brutus was an idiot," Peeta said quietly. "He thought he could be friendly with me during training, and Katniss and I would agree to be allies with him." All eyes turned towards him. "What?" Peeta looked around at his gawking audience. "Did I say something wrong?"

"You remember preparing for the Quell?" Effie asked.

Peeta sat still with his elbows on his knees. "I remember having lunch with everyone and Katniss being really pissed off at Johanna for laughing at me." He lifted his gaze to Effie. "She cared about me."

"Yes, she did...does," Portia ran her hand over his. "Katniss loves you."

Peeta leaned back against the sofa, "I think I know that, but...I'm not sure how I feel about her."

Johanna crossed the room and stood in front of him. "Yeah, well...you better figure it out before you go on air, buns or I'm toast."

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Mr. Tanner led Johanna and Portia to the spare bedroom as Peeta went into the bathroom for a hot shower. Once all his prisoners were in secure positions he took the computer back to Effie. "Here," he handed it to her. "You'll need to input some information in here in case you get injured and can't talk to anyone."

"What sort of information?" Effie held it in her hands and looked down at the screen. "It's different than before. What did you do to it?"

"Made it a bit more secure." He took a seat next to Effie. "You'll need to use this code to get access to it now," he typed it in, showing her how to bring the computer to life. "Speak into it, and it will record whatever you want to tell it, then I'll show you how to hide the file."

"How do you know so much about computers, Mr. Tanner?" Effie wondered.

Steven let out a huge breath. "Tribute Academy. They don't just train you for the Games. Not everyone can go into the arena. They're training future Peacekeepers too. If you're happy being a regular Peacekeeper than you pretty much concentrate on the basic courses, the ones that prepare you for the arena. If you have the ability to see past that, then you take other classes too...ones that can make you a valuable commodity to the Capitol after your eighteenth birthday. I started computer courses the day I entered the academy at the age of five. I excelled in mathematics, science, computer codes...security..."

"Was there anything you didn't excel in?" Effie asked.

"Yes. Physical training." Mr. Tanner gave her a somewhat sheepish look. "I was scrawny until the age of fourteen, then something happened and I shot up...got muscles. That summer while all my classmates were taking the month off the school provided, I enrolled in their extra curricular activities. By the time my classmates got back I had grown six inches, and put on about twenty-five pounds. I was moved up in the academy pretty quickly. Taking advanced courses in technology, and security detail. Then one day I knew more than the instructors. That's when they moved me into Two's elite training. I spent the next two years mastering hand to hand combat, computer technology, science was a thing of the past...not much use for that in their opinion, but technology...that was something they really focused on, along with the physical training of course."

Effie studied him carefully, "You're a...genius."

"Suppose you could say that." Steven got up and drank a glass of water. "My parents used to say I was born in the wrong district. I should've been born in District Three." His shoulders slumped a bit then picked back up. "My dad was smart like me when he was in the academy, but didn't have any physical stamina. My mother was the opposite...she was fierce when it came to battle, but didn't have the brains to go with it. That's how they met. My dad, who's about eight inches shorter than my mother, went up to her and offered to help her with her studies if she would help him with hand to hand combat. They both volunteered during their last reaping, but neither one was chosen, and they were both thankful in a way. Mom went to work in the quarry, dad went to work for the academy as an instructor. No one knew as much about computers as he did, so even though he didn't look the part of an ideal tribute trainer, they knew he was the man to have teaching their future Peacekeepers about technology."

Johanna's voice startled them, "How many are there like you? Smart ones? Because all the tributes I've met from Two are pretty much idiots."

"Thought you were sleeping?" He asked.

"I don't sleep." Johanna asked again, "Are there more Peacekeepers like you?"

Mr. Tanner shrugged a shoulder, "Not really. There were only a handful of others in training with me. I like to think I'm one of a kind."

"You are, Mr. Tanner," Effie said as she took the computer towards her bedroom. "If I leave the two of you alone, will you kill each other?"

"I'm good," Johanna picked at a piece of cake on the table of food.

"I'll be fine, Miss. Trinket," Steven assured her.

"Let me know if I am needed. If you'll excuse me," Effie went into her bedroom to record as much information about the events that had occurred since the uprisings began into the computer as she could.

"If you were such a great student, why didn't you get chosen to go into the arena?" Johanna asked him.

"It was between me and Wondra," Mr. Tanner watched her carefully. "See, they don't show you everything when they air the reaping for District Two. They show all the people that volunteer, but if you'll notice, it always goes straight to the calling of a volunteer's name. They edit out a lot of the selection process."

"So what do they do to choose? Whoever can throw the spear the farthest wins?" Johanna said sarcastically.

Steven let his lip twitch before stopping the smile. "Something like that. There's a panel from the school that decides who has the best chance of succeeding, then there's a broadcast director from the Capitol there to do a quick interview...look us over to make sure we're pleasing enough to the eye...appealing to the audience. Usually they narrow it down to two or three pretty quickly. Then it goes back to the instructors again, as well as the mayor. They used to vote in front of everyone, but they found that there was too much fallout if a tribute from Two didn't do well in the Games, so now it's a secret ballot. I lost to Wondra by one vote."

"Your dad?" Johanna asked.

"Probably," Mr. Tanner shrugged. "Never asked him, but after that, his position was eliminated at the academy and my mother's hours were cut at the quarry. Within six months we had debt piling up and I knew it was time for me to take my position as a Peacekeeper."

"So you gave up your life to the Capitol because they threatened your family's livelihood, yet you stand there defending them to me...like what they did to your family is acceptable?" Johanna plopped in a chair and hung her legs over the arms. "That's screwed up, Hagar."

"Tanner. Steven Tanner," he said.

She lifted her shoulder and ran her hand over her head, "I like Hagar the horrible," she gave him a quick peek, "Hagar, suits you."

"Like Cinnamon Buns suited Peeta?" He smacked her feet off of the arm of the chair, "Sit up. If someone comes in, they'll think I'm being lenient on you."

"Yeah, because the woman talking into a computer, or sleeping in the spare bedroom won't be a dead giveaway." Johanna kicked one of her feet up in the air and dangled it over her knee. "Leave me alone. I'm tired and these ass wipes have been torturing the hell out of me for weeks. Let me have a few minutes of comfort." She rolled her head towards him, "Or will that be crossing some sort of moral line for you?"

He gave her a small smile, "I'm sort of glad I didn't have to kill you in the arena, Mason. You're good for a laugh."

"You laugh?" She closed her eyes. "That's about as rare as...as a Capitol escort turned rebel."

Mr. Tanner let out the laughter this time. "She's something of an anomaly isn't she?"

"Effie?" Johanna hemmed and hawed for a few seconds, "Yeah." She sat upright. "The thing that really freaks me out about her is how smart she is. You wouldn't think it by looking at her, but...that woman is friggin' brilliant. If it wasn't for her, none of us would've gotten out of the arena."

"That was Effie's doing?" Steven asked with shock written all over his face. "She didn't tell me that."

"She probably didn't tell you she dated that jerk Bettes to get information from him either, or that he used to beat the hell out of her."

"He what?" Steven's spine got stiff. "He hit her?" He almost wished the man was still alive so he could kill him himself.

"Not just hit...beat. Our guy in medical told us that he had to heal a few broken bones. Thank God she lived here and not in a district. She'd have been out of commission for weeks, not hours." Johanna leaned closer to Steven. "Tell me something...are you really protecting her because you swore you would? I mean...that's kind of a weak reason."

"Not to me," He crossed a leg over his knee. "Before I took my position in the Peacekeeper division I had to ask myself, if my parents weren't around, would I be willing to dedicate twenty years of my life to the Capitol. That's when I read the oath and realized it wasn't about the Capitol, but about me...the kind of person I wanted to be. Someone that enforces the laws of our nation to make it a better place."

"Didn't you realize that you Peacekeepers were the biggest law breakers of them all?"

Mr. Tanner let out a small breath, "It took me awhile to accept that fact. My superiors not only overlooked poor behavior when it came to Peacekeepers, they encouraged it. That didn't sit too well with me. That's when I applied for a promotion and got it. I was bumped up a couple of times, but it was the same thing everywhere I went until I got approved for personal security detail."

"And you got stuck with Effie Trinket."

"I wouldn't say I was stuck with her, but yes," he nodded absently. "All the Peacekeepers know when we take the oath to protect someone, the job ends when the person you're protecting dies or you die. There's no retirement...no twenty year commitment. Most of these jobs only last for...well, I've known some men that have only lasted a day or two, and others that have been in position for a couple of years."

"If you know you're going to die, then why take the job?" Johanna didn't quite grasp it.

"For most it's the money, but for me...I needed to know I was doing something important with my life." He let both feet rest firmly against the floor. "The day I took the oath to protect Miss. Trinket was the day I agreed to die for her." He lifted his gaze to Johanna's curious stare. " You see, Mason...I'm one of the lucky ones. The person I'm going to die for actually cares about others. She believes in what she's doing as much as I believe in what I'm doing. Who wouldn't die for that sort of person? Isn't that why you're so willing to die for Katniss and Peeta?"

Johanna didn't like it when people pointed out her compassionate side. "I did it so the people of this nation could live without the fear of death constantly looming overhead."

"And because you believe in Katniss and Peeta...in what they did while they were in the arena," He could see right through her.

"Whatever!" Johanna glared narrowly at him.

Steven let out a little laugh, "Your ice queen act is as good as your innocent little girl act. I'm not sure who you think you're fooling, Mason, but you respect them...believe in what they're doing, and you're willing to lay down your life for Katniss and Peeta Mellark." He got up and poured a cup of tea, sweetened it with some sugar and handed it to her. "What makes you so different from me?"

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Peeta watched carefully as the waistband was strapped to Johanna. "It is similar to the electrical jolts you received, Mr. Mellark," Snow said with a lecherous grin. "Gag her so we don't hear her screams." He turned to Peeta, "Of course she won't scream as long as you answer Caesar's questions the way you should. The rebels are using you without your approval. They're horrible people, aren't' they?"

"I...I guess so," Peeta didn't think the rebels were horrible at all. Of course he was basing that on the people he was currently surrounded by. He did think Snow was horrible though. With each passing hour since Effie told him he wasn't what Snow said, Peeta had been questioning the man's motives. Why would Snow be threatening Johanna if Peeta was actually a spy for the Capitol? Wouldn't Peeta do what Snow wanted without having to be coerced into it? And why did he want Peeta to hate Katniss so much? What was the ultimate plan, because now Peeta was sure there was one. "I'll say what you want, just don't hurt her, or..." Peeta realized he may be able to work this in his favor, "...or I'll tell them what you've been doing to me. I'll let the country know what kind of person you really are."

"Mr. Mellark," Snow eyed him carefully. "Your hostility is aimed at the wrong individual. I am not the person that put you in this position. That was Katniss Everdeen."

A memory flashed through Peeta's mind.

"I love you, Katniss Mellark."

A gentle smile played upon her lips just reaching her eyes. "Katniss Mellark," she said it with a tranquil tone in her voice. "Say it again."

Peeta held his lips against hers and whispered, "Katniss Mellark."

He tried to follow it...trace the memory of Katniss saying that to him, back to an earlier part of his life, but it was time to go on air. Caesar Flickerman was introducing Peeta, who wasn't sure what he was going to say. Johanna was on the side of the stage, her safety being threatened by Snow's henchmen, and Katniss...'Katniss Mellark,' he thought to himself, 'I called her that. I kissed her...she kissed me... Was that for the Games? Was there an audience watching?'

"Peeta, any thoughts?" Caesar asked, and Peeta was grateful Effie had played the rebel's propaganda spot for him earlier or he wouldn't have known what to say to Caesar's question. He was too busy thinking about his past, or lack thereof.

"They're um..." Peeta's eyes glanced towards Snow who was only a few feet away from struggling Johanna. Would Peeta follow up on his threat to expose Snow or would he do his bidding? There was pain in his heart as he stared blankly at the red light on the camera telling himself to focus on it, and not think about the people of the nation that might be affected by his words. Johanna was who he was able to protect for now. "It's obvious that they're using old recordings of us to their advantage." There was no emotion in his voice as he said flatly, "Katniss stop letting them take advantage of us...of what we shared," Peeta still wasn't sure what that was. From somewhere in the back of his mind words came out, he wasn't sure what they meant, but he knew he had to tell her, "Don't let them change you. Don't be a pawn in their Games." Peeta's eyes almost glassed over as he said, "Those moments were for you, Katniss." He took a slight pause before adding, "The things I said...I did, weren't supposed to be used as a weapon in a war that could be instrumental in the destruction of humanity. They were for you. It's all for you." He turned to Caesar, "I'm done."

Peeta stayed seated until a Peacekeeper took his arm guiding him towards Johanna. "You should have told them the truth about Snow, Peeta," Johanna glared at him.

Snow leaned in, pressed his moist swollen lips close to her ear and said, "The rebel's weakness will be their Jabberjay's heart." He stood upright, "Miss. Trinket. Escort them back to their prison cells."

"Yes, sir," Effie walked ahead of Mr. Tanner who held his prisoners by a chain that was attached to their handcuffs. Once in the elevator she waited for Mr. Tanner's nod letting her know it was safe to speak. "Johanna, please stop antagonizing everyone in the Capitol. We've lost too many of our friends already, and I do not want to lose you as well."

Johanna glared at Peeta, "What the hell were you thinking? Do you have any clue what the rebels are going to think of you after saying something like that? Like your first interview wasn't bad enough now they're going to think you don't want this war...you don't want..."

"She'll know," Peeta said quietly, almost to himself. "I'm not sure what I told Katniss, but...she'll understand what I said."

"You mean you were sending her some sort of message, dear?" Effie asked.

"I think so," Peeta tried to search for it. "We were in the middle of a garden...there were wind chimes everywhere and I said that to her." He lifted his eyes to Johanna, "I don't know what it meant, Johanna, but something inside of me said she'd understand."

Johanna gave her head a little nod, "Okay buns...you did good, and hey...they only gave me two jolts. Kind of woke me up a bit."

Mr. Tanner rolled his head towards her, "You would enjoy something like that."

"Would've liked it more if you were on the other end of the stick, Hagar," Johanna arched her brow.

"Maybe next time."

Effie sighed. "I'm sure I speak for both Peeta and myself when I say, this barbaric form of foreplay between the two of you isn't the least bit awkward to be privy to," she pursed her lips and gave them a look of disapproval. Peeta's shaking caught them all off guard. "What's wrong with him?" Effie took Peeta's face in her hands. "Look at me Peeta. Peeta!"

Mr. Tanner spoke into his communication band. "We've got a problem with one of the prisoners. Mellark is convulsing."

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"Where we going?" Finnick asked as he stuffed his bare feet into the slippers on the floor next to his hospital bed.

Katniss threw him a startled look. "Go back to sleep Finnick. I'm just taking a walk."

"Then we'll walk together, but you better not let those guards see you," he warned, "they'll report you to Coin."

"That's why you need to go back to bed." Katniss tightened the belt on her robe. "Please, Finnick. I can't be worrying about you too."

Finnick gave her a flirtatious smile, "Do you worry about me often, Katniss?"

She let out a little burst of laughter, "Oh, for goodness sake. Do you ever stop?"

"Only when I've left you satisfied, baby." He wagged his brows.

"You're disgusting," Katniss gave her head a little motion for him to follow her. "Keep it down. If we get busted, I'm blaming this on you."

"No problem. I'll pretend I'm walking in my sleep or something," Finnick whispered, following her quietly down the hall. "Where we going?"

Katniss really didn't want Finnick to be her shadow, but since he was there she might as well put him to good use. "You're going to do some heavy lifting for me." It took them about thirty minutes to sneak to her quarters. "They've got guards everywhere so we'll have to be careful when we leave here." Katniss wondered if they'd be able to pull this off. "Can you carry that trunk?"

Finnick lifted it up and down a few times. "It's not too heavy...more bulky than anything else. Where we taking it?"

She carefully scrutinized the other trunk wishing Finnick could carry both of them. "Let's pack the stuff from that trunk inside of this one, and then I can carry the rest in a pillowcase or something." They barely got it all in, but between the trunk and the pillowcase, Katniss had everything Peeta packed up for them from Twelve. "Just one more thing." She went to the shelf and put the spices in the pillowcase. "Okay, let's go." Since she wasn't staying in her quarters, their permanent guard hadn't been posted, but one did show up every now and then to patrol the floor. Katniss led Finnick to the area where Thirteen's hidden quarters were.

"Wow, what is this place," Finnick looked around, adjusting the cumbersome trunk in his hands.

"Don't know, but I'm trying to find out." She went into the room marked President's Quarters. "Come on," she took him into the main bedroom. "Put the trunk down there," she pointed to a spot on the floor. "I discovered this place on one of my explorations." She opened the trunk and searched through it until she found what she needed. "Here," she handed Finnick one of the uniform shirts everyone in Thirteen wore. "Rip this in half and we can both clean this place up."

Finnick gave her a dirty look, "Now I know why you didn't tell me where we were going. You wanted free labor," then winked at her.

"You caught me Odair. It's not your butt I'm after, it's your ability to dust." She pulled the piece of shirt he threw at her off of her face, "Pick a section and start cleaning."

"Why?" Finnick opened up the closet and noticed it was empty. "You planning on moving in here or something?"

"Something like that," Katniss told him. "But don't tell anyone. I don't want anyone knowing about this."

"Then why'd you show it to me?" Finnick asked as he searched through some drawers. "Hey, there's a few pieces of old clothes in here, why didn't you use those as rags?"

Katniss eyed up the clothing, "It belonged to someone else." She lifted it out of the drawers and placed it on the bare closet shelf. "I don't know why, but I think this is all that's left of them, and I didn't have it in me to just erase them."

"You think the people that lived here died?" Finnick lifted the cushion off of an armchair and began to punch the dust out of it.

"Don't know, but they've got this section blocked off for a reason." Katniss began cleaning from the top down, dusting the walls, the doors of the closet, the dresser, working up a sweat and feeling the muscles in her stomach start to burn. "Damn, I never used to get this worn out. What are you doing to me banana nut?" She ran her hand over her belly and blew out a breath.

"Katniss?" Finnick gave her a strange look. "You talking to yourself?"

"Yeah," she gave her neck a roll and felt a few pops. "Didn't you know, I walk around talking to my missing husband all the time."

"No, I knew that, but you normally don't make any sound when you do that," Finnick lifted up the mattress and flipped it over, a huge puff of dust billowed in the air as he choked on it. "Remind me why I'm helping you with this again?"

"Because you're losing your mind in that hospital room." She pulled out some bedding and threw it to Finnick. "Help me with this." The sheets were too large, so Finnick lifted the mattress up while Katniss pulled the linens tightly underneath.

"These are the sheets from Victor's Village, aren't they?" Finnick asked as he rubbed a pillowcase between his fingertips.

"Yup," Katniss stuffed a pillow into a case. "You going to be useful or rub your hands on my sheets all night long? Who knows where they've been." She tossed a bare pillow at his head. She chuckled then said, "Peeta packed all this stuff away for me while we were getting ready for the Quell. He was hoping we'd be able to use it if we got out alive."

Finnick helped her in silence as they finished setting things out. "Wow," he said as he opened the leather binding that held the sketch Peeta drew for her.

"Hey!" Katniss snatched it out of his hand and slammed the binder closed. "Quit snooping!"

"Holy cow, Katniss," Finnick's face read shock. "I'm seeing you in a completely different light now. All of you." The scowl Katniss threw in his direction had Finnick ducking down his head and holding up his hands in defense of himself. "I'm not the one that sketched you and Peeta half naked in bed. Don't get mad at me."

"Shut up, Finnick." Katniss shoved the binder into an empty drawer.

"What's this?" Finnick looked over a palm sized piece of equipment. "Some type of hair curler...does it shave your legs? It's got to do something to improve your looks. God knows you need all the help you can get," he laughed as he tossed the fetal monitor to her.

"Hey, be careful!" She caught it and clutched it to her chest. "This is one of a kind." She placed it in the drawer next to the leather binder. "You're worse than a kid."

"I do have a certain little boy quality that endears me to the hearts of women all over the nation, don't I?" Finnick gave her an innocent look that had Katniss laughing.

"Yeah, you're spoiled rotten."

Finnick strolled around the room, touching a few things here and there, "I sleep in the hospital ward of Thirteen, wear scratchy nightgowns and eat barely enough hot grain to stop my stomach from rumbling for breakfast while you're setting up a mini victor's mansion, and have more food in one meal than I have all day." He gave her a curious stare, "Who's spoiled?"

"Peeta packed these things for me." She said in defense. "I wouldn't' even use them if it weren't for him." Katniss felt the anger...guilt growing inside of her. "I need to make this place like home so when he gets back..." she sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. Finnick's comment about how much food she was given each day struck a nerve. "They're starving him. I probably ate more during breakfast than he's eaten in the past few weeks." The fury she felt inside towards Snow was overwhelming. "I said I wouldn't go on the rescue mission to get him from the Capitol, but I want to Finnick. I want to go there and kill Snow. Put an end to this whole war."

Finnick took a seat on the chair. "You could kill Snow now, but there's no point unless we've got control of the districts otherwise there'll be another Snow popping up in a matter of seconds."

"Yeah, and her name is Coin," Katniss spit out. "I can't stand that woman."

"I kind of got that impression from that meeting before you went to Eight." Finnick's leg was moving of its own accord in an up and down motion. "Is it because of what she said during that meeting in the dining hall?"

Katniss leaned back on her hands, "Did you know we have an escape route in Twelve. There's a way to get from Victor's Village into the woods without being detected."

Finnick gave her a slow nod. "Johanna and I wondered why you and Peeta didn't get out of Twelve before the Games."

"She didn't want us to." Katniss told him. "Coin wanted me and Peeta to be rescued from the arena so she could show Snow how powerful she was." Katniss turned her whole body towards Finnick, "She put all of your lives at risk just so our rescue could be on television."

Finnick contemplated for a moment then said, "The way I see it, if you two hadn't been rescued from the arena, Johanna, Beetee and I would've had to kill each other to survive, and I'm pretty sure it would've been me crowned victor," he said it with a sorrow filled voice.

"It's like they designed that arena especially for you, huh?" Katniss asked. "Kind of makes you wonder if they had already planned on you being in the arena when it was built. I mean...how do we know Snow hadn't been planning that Quell for years? Then me and Peeta come along and..." she lifted her hands in the air, "...voila. The answer to his prayers. The perfect way to get rid of us without anyone questioning it."

Finnick's playfulness was long gone and in its place was the forlorn patient that had yet to be released from the hospital. "It consumes my every thought when I let my mind travel to the arena." There was silence until Finnick whispered, "The jabberjays."

Katniss swallowed the lump in her throat. "His heart stopping," she added as an image of Peeta laying dead in the arena flashed through her mind.

"Up until that moment I didn't know if you two were for real or not. I actually thought Peeta made up that whole bit about you two being married and having a baby." Katniss appreciated the fact that Finnick didn't avoid mentioning the baby like everyone else did in normal conversation. "When Peeta died out there..." Finnick looked up at her with sorrow written all over his face, "I knew. You two never pretended. You really did get married...you really were pregnant."

"Yes," Katniss said softly. "And now he's gone." She turned to Finnick for help. "How do you do it, Finnick? How do you deal with this?"

"I don't, Katniss," He got up and took a spot next to her on the edge of the bed, his voice on the edge of hysterics. "I can't sleep, and when I do, I wake up from horrible nightmares of what might be happening to Annie out there. You think daylight would bring some form of relief...no more nightmares plaguing your every thought...something. You wake up thinking, maybe today will be the day they go into the Capitol and rescue them, but it's not, and they just keep postponing it." Finnick was on the verge of tears. "I should have warned you somehow. Should have told you and Peeta what they were planning on doing in the arena...what they were planning on doing once you were out of the arena." He buried his face in his hands and began to quietly sob. "I should have killed you and Peeta so you'd never have to go through this."

Katniss placed her hand on his trembling shoulder in understanding. After seeing the condition Peeta was in tonight, she didn't even want to imagine the hell he was going through. Death seemed like the best option. "Sometimes I wish we were all dead," she agreed with him. "They're going to assume the worst of him again after the things he said. If I didn't know him, I'd assume he was against the rebellion." Katniss worried not only about Peeta's quickly deteriorating appearance, but his safety when he did get to Thirteen. "Think Coin will keep her word about pardoning him?"

"I don't know, Katniss. I don't know what's going to happen if they ever get here."

They sat quietly for a little while, both of them feeling sorry for themselves, for the ones they loved. Katniss didn't know what time it was, but she knew they had stayed way too long. It was time to get back to the hospital. "Let's go, Finnick." They quietly made their way back into Finnick's room right before their breakfast was served. Katniss stared at the food on her plate, her appetite completely gone, and scraped some of it onto Finnick's. "Here. I'm not hungry." She ate a few bites of toast after drinking the tea her mother sent with every meal, knowing proper nourishment was a necessity, but actually stomaching the food was another story. In the back of her mind she could see Peeta's thin face, his hollowed out cheekbones, the way the clothes hung off of his shoulders. She could hear the lack of emotion in his voice when he said, 'Don't be a pawn in their Games... It's all for you, Katniss.' "Oh my God," her hand clapped over her mouth. Peeta had sent her a message after all.

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"Where are we going?" Peeta walked alongside of Effie towards an area he wasn't familiar with.

"We're going to District Twelve," Effie had dressed for the occasion wearing sturdy pants, and a matching jacket, boots with a flat heel that supported her ankles, and her hair in a tight bun at the base of her neck.

"You look different today, Miss. Trinket." Mr. Tanner led them to the small hovercraft.

Effie held her head up high, "I will be walking amongst the remains of District Twelve's residents. I don't believe that's the place for high heels and a wig."

"Mom?" Peeta felt strange calling her that. "Effie?" That felt a little more normal. "What if I don't want to go?" He could feel a horrible sensation in his gut forming when he thought about her plan to get him rescued.

"We have no choice," She motioned for him to take a seat on President Snow's private hovercraft. "There are some things you must see for yourself, and a recording simply will not suffice."

"All secure pilot," Mr. Tanner took his spot next to Peeta. "It's going to be a couple of hours before we're there, you two might as well relax."

"Get some rest, Peeta," Effie ordered gently before she closed her eyes in an attempt to get some sleep. Talking on board the hovercraft with the pilot, and the listening devices that were surely planted, was not a good idea. "Go on now," she urged him. "Close your eyes and we'll be there before we know it."

It had been a very long night for Effie Trinket. The lack of jacker juice in Peeta's system caused him to go through severe withdrawal. He was fine now, but once he was out of the Capitol, she worried that he'd die from it. After returning to her quarters with Mr. Tanner she argued with him about returning to medical to retrieve some to take to Thirteen. She had finally given up fighting with him when he excused himself to take his short break. Effie had no clue how she could slip past the Peacekeeper he left to guard her, this one hadn't fallen for her offer of food or drink. He was a Capitol guard. Effie's frustrations grew when the man insisted that he stand directly outside of her bedroom door while she was in it. Mr. Tanner made sure she wouldn't be able to escape that evening. As she paced around her room she began working out a plan in her head to try and manipulate another date with the repulsive doctor in charge of administering Peeta's tracker jacker venom when a soft knock interrupted her. "Mr. Tanner. You're back early."

"I've dismissed your other guard." He made his way past her into her bedroom without asking, pulled out the computer, pushing several buttons, and the wall slid to the side exposing the tunnels. "Come on," he led her through. "We need to hurry." Effie followed him without hesitation in the opposite direction they had gone in before. "Here, hold this," he handed her the computer and lifted up a box placed in the hall. "Put that on top of this," he ordered Effie.

"What are we..."

"Miss. Trinket, don't ask questions. Just follow my orders, okay?"

"Yes. Alright," Effie could tell by his tone she wasn't to argue.

"This way." Effie carried a small box while Mr. Tanner carried a larger one with the computer on top of it. "Wait," he said harshly as the sound of boots traveled overhead. Effie held her breath, waiting for their discovery. "Okay," he whispered. "Let's go." He stopped at a doorway, examined the television monitor next to it and set the box down. He picked up the computer, his fingers flying over the screen and the doorway opened up. "Do not say a thing," he whispered, shoving the computer into his vest.

The sight of the president's hovercraft caused Effie's insides to quake. Mr. Tanner had found a way into the hangar. He released a latch and slid his box into the compartment, hiding it beneath a parachute, then did the same with Effie's box. Closing the door to the compartment, he led Effie around the side of the craft and opened up a door revealing a computer panel. He motioned with his finger for her to watch him as he pushed several buttons and swiped his finger across the screen. He pointed to another craft, then to Effie as if telling her she needed to do the same to one of the other hovercrafts. Effie nodded her head and followed the same pattern on the computer panel as Mr. Tanner while he worked on two other machines. When they were done he gestured with his head for them to head back to the doorway, and Effie ran as fast as her bare feet could take her. Once back in her room, he sealed off the escape route. "What was in those boxes?" Effie asked him afraid to raise her voice above a whisper.

"Everything you'll need for Peeta once you get him into the hands of the rebels."

Effie's whole face brightened. "You mean...you got the jacker juice?"

"The jacker juice, the actual venom, and anything else they had locked away with it," He sat on a chair and let out a huge sigh. Mr. Tanner had spent his break, pilfering the medical supply room. Effie didn't know how he got through the security that kept it protected, but after seeing what he was capable of, she didn't question it.

"And what did we do to the hovercrafts when we tinkered with their computers?"

"We fixed it so they would only have enough power to search for you and Peeta for maybe...an hour."

Effie's eyes opened wide. "How on earth did we do that?"

"It's electrical. It shows that the crafts are fully charged, but will use twice as much energy while in use," Mr. Tanner explained. "They'll have enough power to go to and from the Capitol and that's about it."

Effie thought for a moment then asked, "Can't they simply stop in another district and...refuel or...whatever it is that they do?"

He shook his head. "The districts don't have these types of hovercrafts. They have hoverplanes. Two different systems all together, and the hoverplanes are made for attack. They could search for you and Peeta, but they'd never be able to capture you." He gave her a glance, "One man planes. No room for passengers."

"Mr. Tanner, I'm not sure how to thank you," Effie felt a horrible pang of guilt for using him.

"Get out alive. That's all I ask." He hung his head down, gave his leg a little pound with his fist and said, "Miss. Trinket, I can't keep doing this. It's really making me question my loyalty."

"Oh pish posh," Effie waved a hand at him as she poured him a glass of water and handed it to him. "Give me one good reason you should be loyal to the Capitol."

"I'm not talking about the Capitol, I'm talking about..." he let out a frustrated breath of air, "...I'm talking about myself. My own personal morals have been put to the test since meeting you, Miss. Trinket, and as much as I like you personally, I can't let you compromise them."

"Yes," Effie remembered going through something similar when she watched Katniss and Peeta during their first Games. "Everything you've ever believed in is suddenly coming into question, isn't it?" She noticed Mr. Tanner's reluctant nod. "I'm afraid it doesn't get any easier with the exception of one thing...eventually you realize what's right and what's wrong, and you come to terms with that. You realize that everyone deserves the right to live their life the way they want, and not as servants...as slaves. That children should never be put to death as punishment for something that happened over seventy-five years ago." She placed her hand on his, "Mr. Tanner, when you said you would have enjoyed being in the arena with Miss. Mason, did you mean that? Knowing that you'd have to kill her, do you think you'd actually enjoy that?"

"No," he said quietly. "I've never enjoyed killing people. It's something they trained me to do...something I've done...can do without blinking an eye, but I never really developed the taste for blood."

"That's because you're an intellectual, Mr. Tanner. You like to use your brain, not your brawn." Effie said. "Imagine if the Games were one of intellect, and death weren't involved. Then would you enjoy taking on Johanna?"

He lifted the corner of his mouth in a grin. "Yeah. I'd kick her as..." He lifted his eyes to Effie's. "Pardon me. I shouldn't be talking like that in front of a lady such as yourself."

Effie couldn't be more pleased with his manners. "You can say derriere in front of me. I've even been known to use the word...ass," she let out a light laugh.

"I've never met anyone like you before, Miss. Trinket."

"Nor I, you, Mr. Tanner." Effie patted his arm as she stood. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get some rest."

"Can't do that Miss. Trinket," Steven took a gun out of his boot. "It's time to start your training." Effie spent the rest of the night learning about the different weapons he carried as a Peacekeeper, how to use them, and how to disarm one of the deadly guards. About two hours into Effie's training, he allowed her a small break, locked the computer so no one could get access to it, but the two of them, and then continued her crash course in fighting until his communication band went off ordering her to prepare for her trip to Twelve. "If something happens to me while we're there, you know where Peeta's supplies are, and how to use my guns. Whatever you do, make sure you two get as far away as possible, Miss. Trinket. If the rebels can't get to you right away, find a hiding spot...something... Do not let them capture you alive." He handed her a set of keys to unlock the wrist bands he would be putting on her and Peeta once they landed. "Even if they capture Peeta, he'll be all right. They'll keep him alive as long as they can use him against the rebels, but you..."

Effie understood what he was saying loud and clear. "They'll torture me...kill me if I'm lucky, but I must admit...I fear for your safety, Mr. Tanner."

"I'm not planning on letting them capture me alive, Miss. Trinket."

As the hovercraft landed in the center of Victor's Village, Mr. Tanner confirmed with the rest of their armed escorts flying overhead that they would be moving out of District Twelve's airspace to keep from being detected by rebel flyers. "Location trackers in place," Mr. Tanner said as he snapped bracelets on Effie and Peeta. "Communication bands are a go," he strapped bands around Peeta and Effie's wrists. "HP Two Zero, do you have a location on our cargo?"

"Affirmative, HP One. Their positions are being tracked. HP Two Zero departing Twelve's airspace."

"HP Two One departing Twelve's airspace," another pilot spoke.

"HP Two Two, departing Twelve's airspace. HP One you're on your own."

"Copy," Mr. Tanner spoke into his wristband, and gave the pilot of the plane a quick glance as he led them all outside, away from the hovercraft's surveillance system. "Rahbar," he spoke to the pilot, "I'll need to do a quick check of our surroundings while you keep watch over the prisoner."

"Sure thing, Tanner," the pilot answered.

"This prisoner has been dosed with tracker jacker venom and is highly volatile. You'll want to keep close tabs on him, make sure he doesn't start to jerk or convulse. Prisoner also has some medical problems, and President Snow won't be too happy if he's not returned in pristine condition." Mr. Tanner gave Peeta a deadly stare for good measure. "He doesn't do so well with Capitol residents, so make sure you keep your distance, but be careful, he killed three Peacekeepers while in their care last week. Remember, he's a well trained victor." Mr. Tanner adjusted his belt. "I'll be heading out Miss. Trinket." Mr. Tanner was impressed with the growl that came from Peeta right before he said, "Good luck, Rahbar."

"Hey Tanner, you seem to have a good rapport with them. I can do the scan of our surroundings so Mellark doesn't hurt Miss. Trinket." There was a hint of concern in the pilot's voice. No one wanted to be responsible for Peeta's well-being while he was in Twelve.

"Are you sure? I don't mind walking around..."

"No. No, I insist. Wouldn't want the president's assistant to get injured or anything, and he seems to respond well to you. I'll be back." The pilot went on his way, a scanning device in front of him, looking for signs of life.

Once out of sight, Mr. Tanner opened the door in the hovercraft and removed the boxes. "Where can we hide these?"

"Sixth house has no surveillance," Effie pointed it out to him. "There's a key hidden under the green and purple frog out back," Effie told him. "We should hurry Mr. Tanner." Effie closed up the back of the hovercraft, and took the computer Mr. Tanner pulled out of hiding from his vest. She waited until Mr. Tanner walked a few yards away then pressed her palm against it, and took Peeta's hand, pressing it against the computer's screen and touching a series of buttons as rapidly as she could. "You can unlock this computer now. Once you're in Thirteen, tell Plutarch to go to sponsor gifts and pull up lamb stew."

Peeta nodded his head. "Effie please come with me today. Please."

"Peeta, if I do not return to the Capitol, they will surely take your disappearance out on Johanna and Annie. I cannot allow that," she tapped on some buttons on the computer's screen and shoved it inside of Peeta's shirt, tucking it into his waistband. "Don't contact anyone in Thirteen while the Capitol crafts are here for I fear that they will pick up the tansmission. Once we're gone, you will swirl your finger counterclockwise on the tiny icon in the left hand corner of the screen, that will open up a line for you to talk to Plutarch and Haymitch. They won't be able to speak to you, but they should hear your message, and come to get you. By my calculations, Thirteen is less than an hour away via hovercraft, but they may wait a day or two to come and get you to make sure it's safe." Effie gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I love you my darling boy, now it's time to go." She unclasped the bands around his wrist with the key Mr. Tanner had given hear earlier in the day. "Whatever you do, don't look back, Peeta. Katniss and your baby are waiting for you."

"Come on," Steven called to them from the side of the house. "Move."

"Let's go," Effie held onto his bands and shoved them in her pocket.

Peeta raced towards the mansion Effie had told him about, and located the key under the frog she had described. "I've got it," he held it up to Mr. Tanner. "We should put those boxes in the basement." He fumbled the key and said, "Here, you do it. I can't maneuver my fingers very well anymore. Nerve damage from the arena," Peeta lied in order to take possession of the boxes.

"Take these." Mr. Tanner handed him the boxes, and unlocked the door. "Where's the basement?"

"This way," Peeta led him downstairs while Effie stood guard by an upstairs window. The house looked very familiar to Peeta, yet something about it seemed cold and unwelcoming. "Lift that lid for me, will you?" He gestured to the workbench built into the wall.

"Mr.. Tanner!" Effie called from her watch upstairs. "I think the pilot is coming back!"

"Damn," Mr. Tanner rushed to check out what Effie saw while standing guard. "Where is he?"

"I could've sworn he was right there," Effie pointed out the window.

"We've got to hurry." Steven turned and called down the stairs, "Come on, Mellark." There was no response. "Peeta," his whole face turned to panic as he raced back down the steps. "Where the hell..." He took two steps at a time as he headed back up to Effie. "Where is he?"

"Gone," Effie held out his communication and tracking bands, dropping them into Mr. tanner's open palm. "He's safe now." Effie walked as though she were being held prisoner by her Peacekeeper, towards the hovercraft. "Mr. Tanner, I do hope you will forgive me for deceiving you, but I could not allow the rest of my friends to suffer while I had my freedom." Effie stood strong, and dropped the keys she had used to unlock Peeta to the ground. She bent to pick them up, punched him in his groin, pulled the gun from Mr. Tanner's boot, the way he had taught her during their training session the night before and shot him in the shoulder, narrowly missing his chest. She leaned over his collapsed body, pulled his other weapon away before he could reach for it and spoke gently to him, "It's your own fault for teaching me so well, Mr. Tanner. The only way I could think to keep you alive was to endanger your life." She pulled his helmet off and stroked his hair back from his forehead. "I shall never forgive you, if you die on me."

"FREEZE!" The sound of the missing pilot's voice had Effie lifting her hands in surrender.

Effie's time as a rebel spy was up. Her future was now in the hands of Haymitch and a promise he made as he boarded a hovercraft out of the Capitol. 'My vile little man,' she thought to herself, 'I did my best to stay alive, however, our boy's life is worth so much more than mine ever was or will be.' Effie Trinket was led back to the Capitol in cuffs, her chin held high, barely any makeup on her face, no wig, flat boots, and the pride of a rebel soldier written all over her face.

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Peeta listened to the voice of the woman he loved like a mother calling to her private Peacekeeper, signaling it was time for him to make his escape, and said a silent, "I love you, mom," then pushed the buttons inside of the workbench that uncovered the hidden passage into the woods. Once he was secured inside he jogged slowly down the dirt tunnel with the boxes in hand, his head bent so he wouldn't hit it on the dirt ceiling, slowing his footsteps when he felt the ground slightly shake. He stopped completely, waiting out the hovercrafts flying close overhead, no doubt in search of him, and collapsed to the ground. He was free. He was free and Effie, Johanna, Portia and Annie were still in the hands of Snow. Peeta fought the urge to return to Victor's Village telling himself that Effie would have sacrificed herself for nothing if he wound up back in Snow's mercy. The pain that shot through him, took his breath away. He was sitting below ground. Above him the remains of his family's bakery, his brothers, his real mother and his father. Peeta let the tears fall freely as morbidity consumed him. He waited for hours in that spot, his prosthetic giving off the sensation that it was asleep, his real leg actually asleep, before taking out the computer, placing his palm against it and unlocking it. He stared at the different options on the screen trying to recall what Effie had instructed him to do and swirled his finger over one of the buttons. A screen appeared with a list of names. Peeta read them carefully, and recognized a few of them as sponsors. "That's not right," he mumbled to himself as he pressed the back button and noticed a flashing icon. He pondered for a moment before finally deciding to touch it. His screen came to life. People were speaking, walking through a wooded area next to a lake. 'Is this another one of those propaganda spots?' He wondered. 'If it is they did a terrible job editing it. You can hear everybody talking.' He tried to make out one of the male voices he heard, it was very familiar, but the camera never panned towards the guy. He listened as the girl in the tiny group began to speak about him, and her father. "Who are you?" He asked quietly, "And why are you talking about me like that?" She looked very familiar to Peeta, but after his dose of jacker juice they gave him that morning so he wouldn't go through another episode of withdrawal, everything was hazy. 'Not everything,' he reminded himself, 'You remembered how to access that tunnel.' But the Capitol didn't know about the escape route, and Effie had told him the aspects of his life the Capitol had no knowledge of would most likely stay intact. She had also told him that they would be wiping his memory completely with his next dose of tracker jacker venom. Peeta chuckled when the girl on the computer screen called some people insects. He wished he could see what she was seeing so he could put a picture to what she had described. Then she did something...something that took his breath away. She stood up and sang. Her voice was clear yet full of emotion. 'Pain,' Peeta thought as he listened to her, 'She sounds like she's suffering.' He stared at her long dark hair, the way she held onto something around her neck, and felt his heart beat grow faster and faster. He licked his dry lips, and was sucked into her world. With each verse she sang Peeta felt himself falling deeper and deeper into a heap of emotional turmoil.

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"Did they say anything to you?" Katniss shook her head no. Finnick asked her as they sat hidden in the woods, away from their communication cuffs and tracking devices. "Not even Gale mentioned Peeta's interview?"

"No. Nothing," Katniss wasn't very thrilled that no one said a word to her about Peeta's television appearance during her time with Plutarch and his staff.

"What about Haymitch?" Finnick asked.

That one really got on Katniss' last nerve. "No," she snapped. "But I haven't seen him either, so..." still she was really pissed off that Haymitch hadn't sought her out to tell her about Peeta being on television. "We can't stay out here too long. I have to leave for Twelve in an hour."

"You're going back?" Finnick stood up and walked towards the rock they hid their devices under.

"Yeah, they think it'll make for a good propos if I show them what the Capitol did to it," Katniss knew she sounded detached, but it was the only way she could get through the day. "I've got to head down and put on my uniform."

"Were you going to do any actual hunting while we're out here?" Finnick asked.

"I didn't see anything to shoot," she shrugged.

"What about that deer?" Finnick pointed at the large buck feeding in the distance.

Katniss' eyes glistened at the sight of him, her blood began to pump, her feet moved on their own, quietly through the forest towards the animal. She stopped and took aim, releasing the arrow into the deer, taking him down in one shot. "Yes," she gave herself a quiet cheer. "Come on, Finnick, we need to make sure it's dead."

He followed her towards the animal and paused when out of nowhere she started crying. "What's wrong?" He ran to Katniss' side.

"I can't slit its throat. Damn hormones!" She screamed out, throwing the knife into the dirt. "Do it! Cut its throat so it won't suffer!" She yelled at Finnick.

"Sure, Katniss, but you may want to walk away. I remember how sick you got while we were in the arena and you killed the tree ra..." Finnick stood up from his leaning position over the deer and wondered aloud, "Why do you still have pregnancy hormones?"

"Just kill it!" She turned her tearful face to Finnick's, "Please," she begged.

Finnick stood over the deer studying Katniss for a moment, the way her emotions were out of control, the look of queasiness on her face, "Turn around Katniss. You don't want to see this." Katniss obliged while Finnick cut. "Do we have to gut him out here or can they do that in the kitchen?"

"We should really..." Katniss felt her stomach churning at the thought of gutting a deer. "No. I can't do this. We'll call my father in law. He should be able to help."

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't he a baker? Does he really have any knowledge on how to gut a deer?"

"It's better than nothing! We can't let all that meat go to waste!" Katniss saw the blood dripping from the deer's throat, the stench of it attacking her senses, and made a beeline for the nearest tree.

Finnick considered doing what Peeta did in the arena for her when she got this way, then thought better of it. It wasn't his place to do something like that for her, and knowing Katniss she'd only push him away. He waited until the sounds of her retching stopped, then walked slowly up to her. "This is an all too familiar pose you're striking, Katniss."

"Don't," Katniss held a hand up to him. "Don't say a word. Just...we can call Gale. He'll come."

"Isn't that why I'm hunting with you today? Because Gale was working in Special Defense with Beetee?" Finnick leaned against a nearby tree. Did he ask her what was going on with her or did he act like it was nothing? He honestly didn't know. The combination of anger and regret on Katniss' face told him to leave it alone. If she wanted to tell him what was going on, she would. "You said you had to leave for Twelve, right? I'll just call them on this communi..." Finnick looked at the bracelet, "...wrist...thing, and tell them you have to leave. I'm sure someone in that facility knows how to clean a deer."

Katniss nodded her tearful face at him. "Thanks." She wiped her eyes on her sleeves. "I need to go. I can't stay out here anymore next to that..." She turned her head and stole a glance at the dead animal. "He could have been a father...a father looking for some food for his family, and I..." she sniffed, "...I killed it!"

"Wow," Finnick put a hand on her upper arm and gave her a little shake. "You need to get control of yourself before you go back in there. Come on," He led her out of the woods, away from the dead deer. "Take a few breaths, wipe your eyes, and think of something...happy."

"Happy?" Katniss couldn't think of something happy on a good day let alone a bad one. She stuck her hand in her pocket and pulled out Peeta's pearl.

"Is that what I think it is?" Finnick looked surprisingly at the tiny jewel.

"Yeah," she rubbed it between her fingers. "Normally I don't carry it around with me, but I put it in my pocket this morning for some odd reason. Guess I just wanted to feel him near."

"And do you?" Finnick asked.

"A little," Katniss wiped the last of her sadness on her sleeve. "I'm not sure why, but...he feels so close to me today Finnick. Maybe it's because I'm going back home?" She shrugged. "I don't know. All I know is that I haven't felt Peeta's presence this strongly since the first few days I was here and I thought my dreams of him were real."

Finnick threw an arm over her shoulder in a brotherly fashion, "Sometimes we just need to feel our loved ones near. Maybe you're on Peeta's mind too, and that's why he feels so close."

"Yeah," Katniss liked that thought. "Maybe." Finnick walked her to the kitchen while she talked to her father in law and waited for the man while Katniss left to prepare for her visit to Twelve.

Gale saw Katniss leaving the kitchen and caught up with her. "Hey, aren't you supposed to be getting dressed up in your Mockingjay uniform right now?"

"I needed to talk to my father in law," Katniss wondered if Gale was going to say anything to her about Peeta. The sight of something around his wrist caught her eye. "When did you get that back, soldier Hawthorne?"

Gale looked down at his communicuff and said, "Yesterday. They thought if I was going to be in the field with you all the time it could be a back up form of communication."

"Guess one of us needs to be accessible," Katniss realized how furious she was with Gale. She had seen him before she went to bed the night before, and he hadn't mentioned a thing about Peeta's airing.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He was growing tired of her taking her bad mood out on him.

"Nothing, Gale. Just repeating what you said," she ran her finger under her nose, and clenched her hands together at her side. "By the way, I totally agree you should be the accessible one...for now." 'Until Peeta gets back,' she thought to herself. "I'm just wondering Gale, will I be able to access you too or are you too busy with Coin and Beetee to have time for me?"

"Listen, I'm just trying to keep peace between you and the soon to be president of Panem," He put his hand on her shoulder and tried a new tactic. "I'm just looking out for your best interest, Catnip."

"Oh please," she rolled her eyes at him. "Tell yourself all the lies you want, but don't go spewing them to me."

Gale let out a few deep breaths and did everything in his power to let his anger go. "So...how's Mr. Mellark holding up?" He asked a little too innocently.

Katniss glared at Gale, now she knew, not only did Gale see the interview, he was purposely keeping it from her. "Ugh!" She stormed away from him towards the elevator that would bring her to Beetee and her waiting Mockingjay uniform.

"Catnip wait," Gale called to her, racing behind her. "Hey," he put his hand on her shoulder to turn her and she threw him an evil glare. "I'm sorry," from the expression on her face it was evident she knew he was purposely keeping the information about Peeta from her. "You don't understand. We were just trying to protect you."

"Protect me!?" Katniss was sick of this nonsense. "Like seeing Peeta would...what? Make me crawl up into a ball and hide?" She continued stomping her path down the hall.

"Why didn't you say anything, Catnip?"

"Why didn't I? Why didn't you!?" She countered. "And I did say something last night when I asked you what was going on!'

"I'm sorry, all right?" He tried to take her hand, but she brushed it aside. "I wanted to tell you, I really did, but everyone thought it would make you sick or something."

"It did." Katniss could feel her entire body trembling. "I was sick to my stomach, but now I'm wondering what makes me sicker, seeing Peeta like that or you lying to me for Coin's benefit." As if on cue his communicuff started to beep. "There she is now. Better hurry. You've got all sorts of things to fill her in on."

"I was only trying to help," there was pain in Gale's voice as he said it, then turned to head for the command center.

"Yeah, sure you were," Katniss said to an empty hallway. The entire thing with Gale was growing out of control. Even after the Games when she returned to Twelve, she and Gale hadn't fought as much as they'd been doing lately. She wondered why things were so tense between them, why they couldn't find common ground. They had been friends for so many years, but now she had to ask herself, if she just met him, would she want him as a friend?

The hovercraft ride to Twelve was missing someone, "Where's Haymitch?" Katniss asked with disgust in her voice. Obviously her mentor thought missing this particular trip was the perfect way to avoid the whole Peeta on television issue.

"He won't be joining us for this filming," Plutarch answered. "I believe he said he couldn't handle the sight of Twelve without a bottle."

Pity was not something she was willing to feel for Haymitch Abernathy. He had a pathetic weakness for alcohol that only the laws of Thirteen put a stop to. Not even the woman he cared about was enough to quench his taste for the foul substance. He had lied to her when he said she could trust him, and now she had to face Twelve with Plutarch, and his film crew. 'Oh yeah,' she rolled her eyes, 'and Gale.' Katniss held onto Peeta's locket in one hand and rubbed the pearl in her pocket with the other. "This is when I need you the most," her lips moved as she started talking to Peeta, not giving one good damn if the people around her gave her strange looks. "When no one understands what I'm going through. When they all assume they know me, know what I've been through, and act like it's nothing at all. Like walking through the ruins of Twelve should be easy for me to handle." She thought about the words she wrote to Peeta in the book her doctor had given her, and recited some of them to him, "These stories don't mean anything, when you're not here to tell them to," she sighed as she closed her eyes and ran through the words from start to finish in her head, humming quietly to herself, rubbing at the pearl and gripping the jabberjay locket around her neck, anything to keep herself calm before facing the wreckage better known as Twelve.

"Soldier Mellark," Gale said loudly, snapping Katniss out of her daze.

'My aren't we formal,' she thought to herself before sharply answering, "What?"

Gale's voice changed, the edge was no longer present, "We're here. They're letting us off by the lake."

"The lake," Katniss hadn't expected to go there. Memories of happiness, were associated with the lake, not horror. It was a sacred place to her, one that she didn't want to share with the nation, but there was no getting out of it. "Fine," she stood up. "Let's go."

It was a bit of a shocker for Gale seeing the lake again since escaping Twelve. "Your mom and Prim set up a little medical shelter there," Gale pointed to the abandoned shack. "Peeta's dad dug for katniss at the edge of the lake. He'd say, 'my daughter in law won't let her sister starve,' and pull up katniss root." Cressida began asking him questions about the night of the firebombs, having Gale explain in detail what he went through, how he got out of Twelve and helped the people of his district survive for three days.

Katniss walked around the edge of the lake, bent down and touched the water with a tentative finger. "My dad taught me to swim here." The camera shelled men were focusing on her every move. "I promised Peeta I'd teach him to swim for his birthday, but by the time summer came..." She moved along the edge of the water, "...it was too late." She had never brought Peeta to the lake, yet there were memories of him everywhere. "He loved fish. We'd eat it as often as we could," she smiled at the memories of family dinners. "That and rabbit. I swear that man can live off of rabbit."

"Katniss, did you and Peeta come here often?" Plutarch asked.

"Never," regret filled her voice. "But he knew about it. He was the only one I ever told." Katniss could see Gale moving to the side with his arms crossed over his chest. 'I'm not sure why I didn't trust you enough to tell you about this place, Gale, but it's something you're going to have to accept,' she thought to herself when she read his body language. "This was a special place for me and my dad. I wanted to bring Peeta here, but I couldn't. They turned the fence on during that winter, and we had no other way of getting here." There was another way, but Katniss wasn't going to talk about that on camera.

Katniss' eyes flew up to the birds flitting about in the trees, the flash of white beneath the black wing. One of the men wearing the hard shelled camera gear moved closer to her and all she could think about was how much they looked like bugs. "I'm sorry," she turned to them, "I really have to stop calling you the insects, but those cameras...they look like beetle shells."

"I'm Castor," one of them spoke, then introduced the other, "and this is my brother Pollux."

Katniss bit the tip of her tongue with her mouth remaining closed when she realized the familiar look of Pollux. The way his face sucked in a bit around the mouth, the strange way he swallowed...'Avox,' she thought to herself, then turned back to the birds and pointed them out to Pollux. He looked up at them then pointed to Katniss' pin, she nodded her head yes confirming for him that they were mockingjays, then whistled. The birds instantly picked up on her tune echoing a little melody through the forest. Haymitch had said the Capitol did things to an Avox's tongue so they couldn't speak, she had always assumed they cut it out, but the sound of Pollux's whistle and the birds repeating it back surprised Katniss. When he picked up a stick and wrote out the word, sing in the dirt, Katniss let out Rue's four note song. She had sung it many times to the birds of Twelve, and it was so simple, they instantly sang it back. As she looked up to the birds she thought of Peeta and all the times he begged her to sing something. All the times she said no to him because she couldn't face the emotions music stirred within her. She glanced down at Pollux, the look of anticipation spread across his face, again she thought of Peeta this time she could hear his voice the morning of the reaping for the Quell.

The first sounds of morning filtering into their bedroom just after sunrise, birds chirping, leaves blowing in the early breeze, the shuffle of their drapery across the floor with each gust of wind brought both Peeta and Katniss feelings of pain. They lay facing each other, touching each others faces, placing soft kisses against each others lips. Come two o'clock their lives as they knew it were over. Both of them thought about making a run for it, neither one of them voiced it though. As much as they wanted a life together, it wouldn't mean a thing if the rest of the children in the world had to face what they were facing that day.

"Sing for me, Katniss," Peeta whispered into her ear.

As much as she wanted to give him that one thing, she couldn't. If she allowed those emotions in, she'd never be strong enough to face what they were about to face. "I can't," she whispered back.

She could read the disappointment in his eyes, but he didn't let her know. "That's okay," he said against her lips, "you don't have to. You can kiss me instead."

Katniss held onto Peeta's Jabberjay locket, squeezing it in the palm of her hand until the warmth of the gold seeped through her skin, and mouthed, "This is for all the times I said, no."

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Staring at the bright blue sky filled with billowy white clouds was like staring straight into Peeta's eyes. She missed them. Missed the way they looked at her...made her feel like she was the only person alive. The only person that mattered. Katniss' heart swelled, she swallowed a few times trying to rid herself of the anxiety she felt at his loss. Her mother had fallen into a dark world when her father died, a world Katniss was now all too familiar with. There was a difference though, her father would never return, and Peeta still had a chance of coming back to her. Katniss blew out a small breath between puckered lips working up the courage to do what Pollux asked of her...what Peeta had asked her to do so many times. "Sing for me, Katniss," Peeta's voice asked so innocently in the back of her mind.

Peeta sat on the dirt floor of the tunnel, clutched the computer in his hand, as he watched the scene play out before him. The girl who sang a simple four note tune to the birds, and them repeating it back to her. He was in awe of her...fell into a trance the moment she started to sing.

Katniss spoke directly to Peeta as her lips moved sending the man she loved more than anything a silent message,"This is for all the times I said, no." The cameras were forgotten as were the people surrounding her. The only person she thought of was Peeta. She could feel him as she held onto his jabberjay locket and began to sing.

"All of these scars across my skin

Tell you the story of who I am

So many stories of where I've been

And how I got to where I am

But these stories don't mean anything

If you're not here to tell them to

It's true, I was made for you."

Peeta stared at the computer desperately wanting to look into her eyes, to see the face of the girl with a voice he could only describe as angelic, but the camera never zoomed close enough. It held her profile as she stood by the body of water. The sounds of the birds singing continued until she began to sing. He could feel her suffering...the anguish in her voice as she described a life that had no meaning without the person she loved, and Peeta wondered about the man she was singing to...wished momentarily that it was him she crooned to. That the love she felt was meant for him.

She had written the words to Peeta in the journal Regina had given her after the filming of her first propos. He had told her not to let her head get in the way of her heart, and he was right. When it came to Peeta, she could say anything...share any part of herself as long as her heart lead the way. He believed in her...saw so much more in her than she could ever see in herself. Tears began to form turning her gray eyes into silver pools of mist.

"I climbed across the mountaintop

Traveled across the ocean blue.

I crossed all the lines and I broke all the rules

But I broke them all for you

Because even when I was flat broke

You made me feel like a million bucks

You do, and I was made for you."

The tears finally fell as she thought about the first arena. Climbing uphill and back down again in a desperate search for water. She didn't want to let Peeta down and die. Katniss had promised to live...to win the first Games for him. The Quell was a different story. She had promised herself that she'd die for him until she found out they were having a child then nothing mattered more than keeping it alive, making sure the life she and Peeta had created out of their sheer love for one another made it out of the arena. They had gone through the Games together, shared something life altering that no one else could possibly understand. Others had been in the arena, but none of them faced it the way she and Peeta had. Being a tribute alongside of the one person that held your heart...that was a part of your soul...that you created a life with... Yes, Peeta was the only one that would ever truly understand her.

Peeta's cheeks were drenched in tears, his throat felt as though it were closing up as the girl cupped her hand over her stomach and squeezed the charm on the end of her gold chain. Loneliness consumed him. Not for the people he left behind in the Capitol, but for the life they had described to him. The life they said he had before Snow's drugs took it away. The life she was singing about. He licked at his lips, the taste of salt barely registered when he realized there was no sound coming from the woods other than the girl's voice. "The birds fell silent," he said without realizing it.

"You see the smile across my mouth

It's hiding the words that won't come out

All of these people that think I am blessed

They don't know that my head is a mess

They don't know who I really am

They don't know what I've been through like you do

And I was made for you."

The mockingjays began to pick up her melody. A few chirps here and there, but nothing like the day she sang the Valley Song. The day Peeta had fallen in love with her. The day they started along the path the universe had created for them. A journey, Katniss now knew, she and Peeta were destined to travel together.

Her whole body tensed up as she sang out, her chin lifted to the sky and a slight gravely sound came from her throat as she sang. Peeta could feel every note vibrate through his body. They flowed through him...pumped through his heart like blood. It was as though his life depended on this woman and the heartfelt message she was singing out. There was a sense of need deep within his core he couldn't explain. His thirst for her...to touch her...to feel her near, was desperate to be quenched.

"You see the scars across my skin

They tell you the story of who I am

So many stories of where I've been

And how I got to where I am

But these stories don't mean anything

If you're not here to tell them to

It's true, I was made for you.

Yes, it's true, I was made for you."

Katniss lifted Peeta's locket to her lips, placing a kiss upon it, imagining it was the man himself, and thought, 'Peeta's right. The birds do fall silent when I sing.' She didn't know where he was, or what he was going through, but in that one moment of time, she could feel him, feel the power of his love surge through her, and knew somewhere in the world he was thinking of her too.

The birds were no longer testing out her melody. They sat on their branches in complete silence. Peeta trailed his finger along the outline of her image on the screen as she took a deep breath then placed a kiss upon the necklace she wore. He'd have given anything to be that piece of jewelry. He sucked in a sharp breath when he heard it...the birds, 'mockingjays,' he thought to himself, began to sing her song in perfect harmony. Peeta Mellark didn't know who she was, or why he felt the way he did, but he did know one thing, this was how he was supposed to feel about Katniss.

Katniss closed her eyes, she had no clue her face was covered in tears, and mouthed to Peeta, "Always...your love is always with me."

Peeta hit the back button on the computer, killing the feed, and closed his eyes. He could no longer watch her without being consumed by guilt. Like he was cheating on Katniss, a woman he barely knew. 'This is insane,' he thought to himself. 'It has to be the drugs they gave to me.' That was the only conclusion he could come to about his emotional tie to the singer. 'No one could feel that way about a person at the mere sight...sound of them, or could they?' He wondered. The image of a little girl flashed before his eyes, standing on a chair, two long, dark braids trailing down the sides of her head, a red plaid dress and the voice of an... Peeta opened his eyes and stared down the dark tunnel as he spoke to himself in a hush, "...of an angel." His feet slid across the dirt bringing his knees to his chest, his hands curled over the computer, as his heart ached for a girl he had never even met. He needed to see her again. He turned on the computer, pushed the button that led him to her song, and saw her mouth something directly to the camera. Though she made no sound he understood what she said, and let out a little laugh. She was speaking to...him. He squinted at the computer through tear filled eyes and noticed something. "It's you," he whispered harshly just as the screen went dark.

"And cut. I don't know how you come up with these things. It's priceless!" Plutarch's order snapped Katniss out of her reverie.

Katniss faced the camera she had forgotten was recording her every move and mouthed, "Come home to me Peeta. These people are insane." She looked down at Pollux whose face was covered in tears, and turned away. She needed to get out of there. Away from all of them. She needed Peeta. "Can I meet you in Victor's Village? I'd like some time alone."

"That wouldn't be too wise, leaving you out here by yourself," Plutarch said.

Gale looked at the camera and asked, "Are those off?" Both men nodded their heads. Katniss didn't know what Gale said to Plutarch when he took him aside or why he asked about the cameras being off, but she was grateful when he walked up to her and said, "We'll walk you to the flat rock, and you can go back to the village through the tunnel. You know how to get into it?"

Katniss nodded her head, "Yes."

"Good, because I have no clue," Gale gave her a halfhearted smile before leading the way.

She walked down the dirt stairs and shut herself beneath the woods. The sound of Plutarch's voice echoed through her earpiece. "Are you able to hear me, Katniss?"

"Yes," she tried not to sound so disappointed. "I'll call you when I'm in Victor's Village." Katniss took hold of one of the torches Cinna had created from synthetic fire off the wall and turned it on, lighting her way through the tunnel. She would have preferred to walk through the woods, but there was no way they'd let her do that alone, so she settled for the peace and quiet her dark surroundings provided. It had been a rough day for her and Gale. Returning to Twelve, listening to everything the residents went through after she shot the force field in the arena, was gut wrenching. She couldn't help but feel like Gale had rescued the people of their district because of her own stupid actions. Shooting the force field was the reason the Capitol sent in the hoverplanes after all. Katniss' light began to flicker off and on impeding her travels. "Come on," she smacked at the hand held torch trying to get it to turn back on. "Great," she grumbled. "Can't see a damn thing."

"Did you say something, Katniss?" Plutarch's voice called through her earpiece.

"No. Just talking to myself." If she had told them she couldn't see anything they'd probably freak out and send Gale in to light her way or drag her back out. She ran her hand along the dirt wall, hoping she'd find another torch, the walls were lined with them, and made her way slowly through the darkness. Her eyes picked up when she saw a flicker of light up ahead. 'Oh, great,' she immediately thought Plutarch had sent someone in to make sure she got to Victor's Village all right. 'I can't even have a few minutes to myself. What a crock.' Katniss was glaring as she walked towards the light, stuck her hand in her pocket and pulled out her pearl. The feeling of its smooth surface ran between her fingers as she slowed down her pace, she wanted more time, needed it. Peeta had been a prominent fixture in her mind today. He was there everyday, but today more than others. She feared he was in danger, that death was knocking on his door. She tried to tell herself if he died he wouldn't have to face whatever torture Snow had in store for him, but the thought of living without him was like taking a punch to the gut. "You better be safe," she mouthed to him. "I kept wishing you'd send me a sign during your last interview with Caesar...I was so sad when you didn't, but then I realized you did. I remember that night, Peeta...before the Games. I remember what you said to me."

Katniss looked around at the flying chimes on the Tribute Center's roof. When they settled back down and began to make their soft tinkling noises she said, "I wish we had a place like this in the arena." She turned to Peeta. "A place where we could talk and no one could hear what we were saying."

"Maybe we should take up lip reading?" Peeta tried to make a joke, but Katniss just gave him a soft smile. He knew if they had stayed up there any longer they would be in trouble. They needed to leave before temptation got the best of them, but there was still something she needed to know. "Katniss, I have to tell you something."

"Okay."

"It's important."

Katniss saw the urgency on Peeta's face and said, "I'm listening."

"After you win and you come back here. You'll see the recap of the Games and…I'm not sure how they'll edit it or what you'll be seeing…or…or hearing…I guess what I'm saying is…I'm not going to let them change me."

Katniss didn't understand what Peeta was getting at. "You mean you won't kill anybody?"

"No." He shook his head. "No…I'm sure I will." He lifted an eyebrow and said, "I know I will, but…I'm not going to be a pawn in their Games, Katniss. I've got my own agenda. I'll be playing my own Game." He placed his hands on her upper arms and said, "The important thing to remember is that, no matter what I say…no matter what I do…It's all for you. Will you remember that?" He was nodding his head at her. "Everything I do in that arena is for you. You just have to remember that no matter what they play back during the recap. Okay?"

Katniss began to nod too. "Okay. I'll remember."

"Well, I do. I remember, Peeta." His message was clear. He was still saying what Snow wanted him to say in order to protect her. The light was getting closer and for a split second she wondered why it wasn't moving towards her. If Gale had been sent down wouldn't he have been making his way to her? As quickly as the thought entered her mind, it left. She saw the outline of him standing there. The pearl slipped from her fingers and bounced along the dirt floor until rolling to the tip of his boot. Katniss was frozen in place. She looked at her wrist to check and see if she was still wearing the bracelet that challenged her mental stability, it was gone, and gave her head a quick shake. It couldn't be him. It was impossible, but then she heard his voice, and a chill shot down her spine.

Peeta wasn't sure what to do. Did he wait to make sure no one was searching for him? Effie had to be back at the Capitol by now assuring them that he was no longer in Twelve. His thoughts kept drifting back to the recordings he's seen over the last day of him and Katniss...of the song she sang to the mockinjays. He wondered if it was for him...if her song was rehearsed or if it came from her heart. Something inside of him said she couldn't have performed that way for a camera. He tried so hard to remember her..."Katniss," he repeated her name to himself over and over again, hoping it would spark more memories. When he found out he was married and had a child on the way his whole body felt like ice. It was a couple of hours after they watched the recording before anyone could explain it to him.

"Effie," Peeta walked into her bedroom after showering, dressed for his upcoming interview with Caesar Flickerman. "Do you know anything about makeup? I'm afraid I'm at a loss when it comes to that." He really didn't want to bother Portia.

Effie looked up from her computer and smiled sadly at him. "You're such a handsome young man. You don't need any makeup." She tucked the computer under her arm and walked him into her main living area. "You look so much like your father. I've only seen him a few times on television, but when I met him in person...I must say I was a bit taken back by your resemblance to him."

Peeta thought about his dad. He missed him. "It's so hard to think he's gone...my brothers...my..." he cleared his throat and lowered his voice down, "...my mother. I keep trying to think of her, but I don't remember her. I don't even know what she looked like."

He couldn't help but notice the look on Effie's face when he told her that. Peeta turned to look at the rest of the people in the room, Effie's personal guard and Johanna were siting in the middle of the living room, avoiding eye contact with him. "What did she look like?" He asked Effie.

"You can see her for yourself . I believe we have the ability to pull up the interviews with your family on my computer, don't we Mr. Tanner?"

"Sure," he took it from Effie's grasp and began tinkering with it until something came on the screen. "Here you go."

Peeta watched the woman as she sat next to his father during some sort of interview. Short hair about a shade darker than his, her mouth a hard line until she smiled, which looked forced and never quite reaching her eyes. He remembered her, but when he thought of her he didn't think she was his mother, he thought she was an employee at the bakery. "This is her?" Everyone nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Yes dear," Effie rubbed his shoulder. "That's her."

Peeta jerked when the image of a wooden spoon coming straight for his face entered his mind. "Here," he thrust the computer back towards Steven. "I'm sorry I asked."

"Why don't I wake Portia and we can get her to apply your makeup, hmm?" Effie asked.

"Yeah...okay," Peeta sat on the edge of the sofa and tried to put the horrifying images of being hit out of his mind. Seeing the recording of the woman they called his mother caused a surge of fear and hatred to rush through him. He sat quietly while Portia did her job trying to make him look healthy, not exhausted and beat to hell. "I'm doing this interview with Caesar and I have no clue what to say. How can I defend Katniss when I can't even remember her?"

The room was too quiet until Portia said, "You had a language...a way of speaking to one another that amazed me. Amazed all of us, really. You two could speak without words...practically read each other's minds, and know what the other was saying."

Johanna let out a bit of air and said, "She could shoot like no one I've ever seen. Took down five targets during training in less than five seconds."

The corner of Peeta's mouth lifted in a little grin as he pictured it. He remembered the sound of the birds hitting the floor and the entire room being silent...in awe of the girl that put on a shooting display.

"She's fearless," Steven Tanner's voice surprised everyone in the room. "When I watched her in the Games I was thankful I didn't have to face her. She gives the word courage new meaning."

Effie pat his hand and shared a memory, "She hated dressing up." A sorrowful yet almost fond memory danced in her eyes as she spoke. "When I tried to teach her how to behave like a lady of breeding, she hiked her dress up to her thighs, kicked off her high heels and stormed out of the room when lunch was announced. I was so frustrated with her that day, but then..." Effie lifted her gaze to Peeta's, "...I couldn't understand why you would love someone like her, then you told me to think of the girl that shot an apple out of roasted pig's mouth while in a room full of Gamemakers... that put her those she loved before herself. You opened my eyes to how very special she was...is." Effie paused then added with a loving smile, "She is quite the little spitfire, your Katniss."

Peeta sighed as he listened to them describe her. "She sounds like she's pretty...strong willed."

"The words you're looking for are, as stubborn as an ass," Johanna quirked the corner of her mouth. "But she's more than that. She cares about people."

"She shocked everyone when she saved Thresh's life in the arena," Mr.. Tanner said.

"When she volunteered for her sister," Portia added.

"Yes," Effie remembered the day well. "She was District Twelve's very first volunteer," she said proudly. "You were the second..." she cupped Peeta's cheeks in her hands and said with confidence, "...and the last. Thanks to you and Katniss no one will ever have to be reaped or volunteer again. You two...your love for one another inspired us all." Effie dropped her hands and gestured to the room full of people. "We're all here because of you and Katniss, and that's a wonderful thing darling. So when you go out there and do your interview, you remember that."

"I can't Effie," Peeta tried not to feel heartsick. "I don't remember feeling that way. All I have to go on is what people are telling me."

Mr. Tanner pushed some buttons on the computer screen and said, "No you don't. Here," he handed it to Peeta.

Peeta watched as he and Katniss stood toe to toe with one another and shared a tearful goodbye. He blew out a huge breath when he saw himself drop to his knees saying, "Daddy loves you," to her belly, and swallowed lump after lump in his throat when he watched himself kissing her goodbye...telling her he loved her...running her braid through his fingers. "One, two, three," he mouthed to the computer screen, wondering what her hair felt like, right before he watched himself turn and run towards Johanna. "Whe..." He cleared the frog out of his throat as he handed the computer back to Mr. Tanner. "When was that?"

"The Quell," Johanna answered. "It was right before she shot the arrow into the force field."

Peeta just nodded his head. He was desperate to feel what it looked like he felt in that arena. He almost asked about the baby, but didn't want to face it. The recording of him and Katniss was more than enough to prove to him that his friends weren't lying to him about their feelings for one another. Between the memories of his mother, and no memories of Katniss, Peeta felt like he was on the verge of insanity. He wished Effie was his real mother. He was sure the love he felt for her was how a son should feel, and he knew, by how much of herself Effie was willing to sacrifice for him, she loved him like he was her very own. It was how he should be feeling about the child he was expecting with Katniss. 'Is it yours?' His mind began questioning it, but he pushed the thoughts quickly away. 'Daddy loves you,' he repeated the words back to himself in his head then thought, 'Daddy... I don't know you, banana nut,' the pet name he had given to the baby registered, and suddenly he felt a pang of remorse for his lack of memories of the child. "Time to go," he stood up knowing he could no longer put off the interview with Caesar. Desperately wanting to stop thinking about all that was taken away from him. "Thanks," he said to the room before holding his hands out for Mr. Tanner to cuff.

Peeta shook his head, clearing the cobwebs from his brain. He needed to get out of his current situation...stranded in the escape tunnel of Twelve. He had no food, no water and he could feel his shakes beginning to resume. He swirled his finger across the icon Effie told him would send a message to the rebels in Thirteen and spoke. "Haymitch? Are you there? It's..." Peeta cleared his throat and stopped speaking when he noticed the tiny white rock roll in front of his foot. He picked it up, quickly examining it, "Katniss," he said quietly.

Peeta knelt in front of Katniss and held the pearl out to her. "I know I promised to get you a ring, but would you consider accepting a pearl instead?"

Peeta rubbed the tiny white rock between his fingertips, and thought of her.

"Peeta?" Katniss had no clue if he was real or if he was a figment of her imagination. Her breath caught in her throat as he turned to face her.

Peeta dropped the pearl to the ground and took a few steps towards her. They stood less than a yard away from each other. His eyes delved into hers, scanned her features... "Freckles," his voice was trembling when he realized who it was standing before him, "Katniss."

There comes a time in every victor's life when they are posed a question. A time when your sanity is truly put to the test. You've killed. Not just killed, but murdered, innocent children for the most part. Granted you do this to save your own life, at least you think that's what you're doing when you're in the Games, it's a completely different story when you leave the arena as a victor. That's when you realize the life you fought so hard to save was no longer your own, and stopped belonging to you the moment you were reaped. Causing so many fatalities provoked every victor to question their sanity. The question? Is this...this particular occurrence in my life real, or a dream?

For Katniss standing within reaching distance of Peeta, being able to lift her hand, reach out and touch him, was unbelievable, but real.

For Peeta, seeing Katniss, right before his eyes, was not real. He had been fantasizing about her, thinking of her while she sang, he had just watched her on the computer Effie had given to him, and he had been drugged over the course of a few weeks, so...no, the vision before his eyes could not have been real, for if it were, he'd surely be feeling a bit more apprehensive about reaching out and touching her. Since this was most likely a dream, he found courage within himself and pushed a tentative finger against her cheek asking the question they were both thinking, out loud. "Are you real, or...not real?"

Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes filled with tears. Katniss felt the pressure of Peeta's finger against her face, an absent, "Ow," came out of her mouth before she answered the question. "Re...real."

Their eyes searched one another for permission to move...to breathe...to start living again. Surely they had both been the equivalent of the walking dead while apart. Peeta knew who she was. He went to school with her...she was from District Twelve...he had heard her sing next to a lake and time stood still...his whole world flipped upside down and around again. That's what he knew for certain. What he didn't know was what his friends at the Capitol had tried to tell him. That they were married...having a baby...that she loved him...only him. He knew nothing about that life with the exception of the brief glimpses of her that continually flashed through his mind. "I don't remember loving you," he spoke to her as though she'd be able to fix everything the Capitol did to him with one simple touch. "I want to, but I don't," his desperate plea hung in the air.

She didn't understand what he was saying or why, all she wanted to do was throw her arms around his neck and kiss him. The sound of his voice, the blue of his eyes, the way his hair flopped against his forehead turned a power switch on inside of her that had been in the off position for way too long. "Peeta?" She reached out to him, curled her hand behind his neck, took a careful step, planted her feet on the earth between his, and lifted herself to him.

Now Peeta was positive this was a dream. He had fallen asleep in the tunnel while waiting for the Capitol hovercrafts to disappear. It had to be, because the feeling of her hand guiding his lips to hers, the taste of her kiss when their mouths finally met, and the soft whimpers that came from both of them as their moist lips pressed against the others...when their mouths brushed back and forth, their eyes held on to the others gaze, and their tongues swirled, was what dreams were made of. His arms wrapped around her body, lifting her to him. Layers of clothing did nothing to conceal her rapidly beating heart as their kiss grew deeper.

Their eyes were closed now, her hands trailing up his back...his shoulders...down his upper arms, and back up to his neck, brushing her thumbs against his jaw, drawing him in. A voice spoke to Katniss in her earpiece, but she didn't hear it. The only thing she could hear was the sound of her blood rushing through her ears.

Peeta's grasp on her grew stronger, he lifted her slightly off the ground. If he was dreaming he was going to make this the best one of his life. He could hear her saying she loved him between their now deep, passionate kiss, and though he wanted to say it back, he couldn't. She was expecting something from him. The profession of a love from a life he didn't know, not a fantastical notion he developed within the past hour about her while she sang in the woods. Sounds poured out from between their mouths. A moan, a soft mew until finally their breathing became so labored they had to pull away. Peeta had to wake up. When he opened his eyes he expected the green and gold glow that had accompanied so many other dreams, but there was none. "Wow," he breathed out against her skin.

"Yeah...wow," Katniss agreed. Still in a state of shock, she didn't ask herself what he was doing there or why. She didn't particularly care, but she did ask him, "What did you mean you don't remember loving me?" She felt herself being pushed gently against the wall, gladly let her back lean against the flat surface, and let Peeta ignore her question. His mouth began to devour hers. His hands ran all over her uniform, which felt way too thick in that moment. She wanted to feel his touch everywhere on her flesh, not through the black protective gear she was dressed in. "Dear God," she began to unbutton, unsnap...unzip, and peel the multiple layers off of herself.

His hands began to tear her vest off and throw it to the ground, something yanked out of her ear and fell with it. "Do you need that?" His gruff, breathless, voice asked.

"No," she shook her head, their kiss not stopping as their bodies...their hearts reacted to seeing one another. "Peeta," she panted when she stood before him with her uniform hanging from her waist, the top part of her body covered in nothing but a bra. "I love you," she spoke into his open mouth as he continued to kiss her. "I love you, Peeta."

He groaned in answer to her declaration, and pulled her away from the wall closer to him until she jumped into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. "Katniss," he had to say her name...the one he remembered prior to his last interview with Caesar Flickerman. "Katniss Mellark," saying it out loud was so familiar as was the feel of her fingers digging into his scalp, and the sound of her small cry between their lips. He didn't know if he was married to her or not. He didn't care. What he did care about was the fact that he now knew he wasn't asleep. This wasn't a dream at all. "Real? This is real?"

"Yes," she said hoarsely.

His head was saying, 'You need to stop.' His heart was saying, 'A few more seconds...just a few more...' "I...I can't," he pulled his head back, but she was relentless. Clamping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her, attacking his every sense until he was senseless. Peeta's hands were plastered to her, one against her lower back, the other spread between her shoulder blades, holding her in place as he let her take charge of their kiss. 'You have to tell her,' a moral debate began within him. 'Tell her what? She thinks I'm her husband...this is fine. But it's not! Stop this! Tell her!' "Katniss..." her heels were digging into him as her entire body clung to his like a lifeline. "Please," he tried to speak again.

"Please what?" She wasn't ready to stop yet. Not quite yet. There were questions to be answered, she knew, but right now the only thing she wanted was to feel loved by him, and he wasn't disappointing regardless of what he said to her earlier.

"I...need to...oh God," his legs felt like they were about to give out. "Stohhp," he breathed out. Her kisses traveled up his cheek, across his forehead. At least his lips were free whether or not the rest of him wasn't. "We...I...," he swallowed, licked his lips trying to take every last bit of her flavor in.

"Don't." Katniss finally pulled far enough away from him and took a breather. "Don't say anything yet." His words about not remembering loving her kept echoing in her mind. "Let's not think for a minute, okay? Let's just..." she had to kiss him again. His full lips pressed softly against hers in a gentle full mouthed kiss. "Oh," she let her head drop back a bit then picked it up again. Reality was beginning to invade, and she wasn't ready for it to rear its ugly head yet. She was sure Plutarch was screaming in her earpiece by now. The sorrowful expression of Peeta's worried eyes. How he got to Twelve...why he was alone in the tunnel...how he heard her sing... all of these things needed to be addressed, but once she did, she knew their happy reunion would be over. She'd have to face the torture he was subjected to. Hear about the pain and agony he suffered through. Worst of all, he'd answer her question about his memory of her. "Let's just enjoy this for a few minutes before...before..."

If she was willing to let things slide for a few minutes, so was he. This might be all he'd be allowed of her. Once he confessed the truth she wouldn't want anything to do with him, and he needed to take whatever he could get. "Okay," he felt her legs slowly slide down the sides of his body. "No," he quickly reached a hand for one of her legs and lifted it back into place around his body. "Not yet. I need to feel you...just let me feel you."

"Touch me," she whispered into his ear. "I need to feel you too...feel your heartbeat against mine." She gripped his shirt in her hands and slowly peeled it upwards until his chest was exposed, but his shirt remained on, his faded bruises went unseen. Their eyes locked, a loving silver gaze...a wondrous blue stare. Katniss pressed her chest against his, felt the pounding of his heart against her own, and let her whole body collapse in his arms. Her forehead pressed against his, her arms rested around his neck, her legs now dangling as he held her up by the apples of her buttocks. "You're home," she softly sobbed against his lips. "You're home."

There were too many questions to be answered, but for now Peeta knew... "I'm home."