A/N: Hey guys I hope you're enjoying the story so far, I love you and thank you for your support! Merry Christmas!

Panemonium: A New Kind of Comfort

The hovercraft ride to our new home was uneventful. Due to the fact that all the remaining tributes and my fellow victors, were so tired, thirsty and hungry that there wasn't much time for anything but the necessities. We all scarfed down the food that was sat in front of us, and gulped every drop of water that was given to us. After the not so satisfying meal, we all decided to sleep away the ride.

Once Katniss finally replaced the clothes that she burnt down to a crisp during the battle on the rooftop, I finally agreed to bunk with her, Rue, and of course, Cato on one of the few bunks provided in the hovercraft. The order, Katniss, Rue, Me, the Cato, was arranged by the scared little girl who felt safest between me and Katniss. When she told us this, I felt so touched in the heart, because she barely knew me, yet she was still willing to trust me. I approved of this because I got to sleep next to Cato, who made me feel safe; Katniss could really careless where she slept, as long as she could catch a few winks.

~xXx~

I awoke with my face buried into the crevice of Cato's neck, my arm on his chest, and his arm snugly fit around my back, his hand cupping my butt. He was snoring softly, his slumber breath, blowing through my hair, and his mouth pressed against my forehead. The moment was picture perfect, something I was willing to live in for the rest of my life. Unfortunately duty calls, and we must move forward. I eased my way out of his grasp and tried to lightly traverse over him, but was caught by his arms and pressed back into his chest. When I looked into his face, I saw him awake and smiling.

"Trying to escape me, eh?" he said in horrible French accent.

"Of course, you can't keep a damsel in distress forever, eventually she's going to leave herself instead of waiting around for prince charming, you know?" I retaliated. "Lucky for me, he is already here."

His laugh was velvet in my ears. "I love you."

"And I love you, now can I please go tinkle?" I asked.

I don't know are you feeling lucky?" he asked.

Yes. I. Am." I answered.

"Brave?"

"On occasion."

"Scared?"

"Never."

"Loved?"

"Always."

"Horny?"

"Maybe."

Sex?"

"Not now."

"Aww come on." He whined.

"We are next to a twelve year old little girl, in a flying object where there is someone around every corner. We have no choice." I scolded.

He released me on defeat, and I scurried away to the bathroom. Upon my return I saw that Cato was no longer in bed. I tip toed back out of the room, and began my search for the hunk of a man. He wasn't in the conference room, or the cockpit. When I did find him, he was bent over searching the fridge for a quick meal. I snuck up behind him and gave a swat at his behind. He jumped, banging his head on the refrigerator cursing. He turned around his face red and contorted with rage.

"What the hell?" he yelled.

"Tehehehe, gotcha!" I said with a smile. I moved closer and gave his a smooch for his trouble, then I kissed the top of his head for his pain.

"I'm going to get you back for that." He said as he pulled me into a hug. He sneaked in a pinch on my back cheeks, and I jumped a mile high.

"Cato!" I said, slapping him playfully. He dissolved into fits of giggles; I eventually caved in from the stony look on my face to laughing with him.

I grabbed a banana and a glass of milk, and sat down next to Cato on the bar stool. He was enjoying a cup of orange juice and ham and cheese sandwich. We began to eat, and suddenly a light bulb lit up over my head! I peeled the banana slowly, very aware that Cato was watching, but I never met his gaze. I took the peeling and threw it over my shoulder, landing with a soft "thp!" I eyed the banana with puppy dog eyes, and ever so slowly I ease it into my mouth. I didn't stop until my fingers holding the bottom of the banana touched my tongue. Cato gave a spit take, and quickly took the banana out before dying of laughter.

"Hot, Shit, Damn Peeta!" He said a wild look on his face.

"You like what you see?" I said teasing.

"You're such a tease." He pouted.

"You'll get what you what; you just need to have a little patience." I said.

"I have no patience." He countered. "And by the way, you want it just as much as I do."

"True, but I do have patience." I shot right back.

The sliding entrance opened, and Sabra and Emmer entered. Cato and I quickly straightened up like nothing happened, but a glance at each dissolved our façade, and we resumed our titters. They stopped dead in their tracks, a surprised look on their face. Gathering our composure once more and a deep breathe, we finally stopped.

"Having fun?" asked Emmer.

"Oh they were having a lot of fun." Sabra said, picking through our minds.

"Hey that's not fair, don't do that!" I scolded her.

"It's not like I can stop it with ease, its permanently burnt into my mind, so it takes focus to shut it off, by that time it's completely moot." She explained.

"So you saw slash heard everything we thought?" Cato asked.

"Oh yes, a little too much." She said.

"What was Peeta thinking during our time in the kitchen?" He asked. I turned a beet red, and shushed Cato.

She closed her eyes. "Well, he was undressing you in his head, oh ew! Has he ever seen you naked? That is some vivid imagery. Then he was shocked that he could fit the entire banana in his mouth. Oh, and the rest is all about sex, mind you I do not want to go down that road."

Emmer and Cato roared with laughter, I turned crimson and buried my face into Cato's chest. I was embarrassed.

"How do you handle all of that?" I asked.

"Well I sort of deal with it like people are just talking out loud. It's like living in a world with no secrets." She explained.

No privacy either." I said under my breath. Everyone laughed at that.

We chit chatted about other, less intimate things after that. As the conversation went along, I realized that Sabra and Emmer were actually cool people.

Sabra was a twenty year old form District 6, whose parents helped manufacture automobiles. She is the only child and was planning to join the work force as a psychologist. Alas she was reaped. I think we all know how this one unfolds. She met Emmer and Thorne in the same Hunger Games. They stuck it out until the end, and instead of killing each other, the scientist weaseled their way into the Gamemakers quarters and demanded they keep them alive for the sake of research. This Hunger Games was actually replaced with the Third Game, which of course no one would remember, so it was the perfect cover footage for the public.

Emmer is twenty-two and hails from District 9, and Thorne was also twenty two, but he comes from District 7. Thorne's counterpart in the games was actually a girl whom he had grown up with. Apparently their parents ran a joint lumber business together. Anyways, she had died in his arms, when he had failed to save her. Sabra and Emmer told us that he had been pretty messed up over it, and was glad that he had Blair from 5. It was the first time he had smiled in over five years.

Haymitch's voice magnified over the intercom, and said that we were to land in five minutes. Excitement flooded through me. We were going to safety, and we could actually live without having to constantly look over our shoulders. I gave Cato a very heated kiss in the spur of the moment, leaving him breathless and hot. I snickered and brushed down his nose before turning to get the others.

"RISE AND SHINE, HOME IS HERE." I shouted banging on a cast iron skillet I frisked from the kitchen. Agitated they rose from their dreams, and started throwing pillows at me. I ran for cover back in the kitchen, and leaned against the bar once the coast was clear. I scooted over so Cato could wrap his arm around me, this is where I belong. I knew it because it felt so natural, so right, there is no way it could be wrong.

One by one the others entered the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from their eyes, and yawning. I felt so much love for the bunch I made a quick and easy conclusion. These guys were family to me, and after all we have been through, who's to blame me for feeling this way?

The hovercraft landed in a run-down hanger, where there were two other hovercrafts. With the help of the adults, we were herded in the right direction. We descended fights of winding stairs, and came up to an elevator. We split into two groups and one after the other we descended even deeper underground.

When the elevator doors slid open all I could see was a dull grey. It was everywhere, on the ground, on the walls, even the clothes were grey. A monotone lady came to our assistance, guiding us through the maze that was the underground building. As I looked back at the elevator I saw that it was guarded by two stern looking guards. Security must be taken seriously here; that made me feel even safer than I imagined.

We entered a conference room where an old woman with two guards to either side of her, were waiting.

"Welcome to the remnants of District 13, I am President Coin, and I will be your… "Host" I guess you would say. There are simple rules that make our systematic lifestyle that we live down here work. I trust that you guys will heed them. Firstly follow the daily schedule that will be inked on your arm every day. Secondly, don't cause trouble, and obey those who are placed in charge. Lastly, do not try and cheat your way out of system, to which you assigned. Do I make myself clear?" she monologed.

We were taken by surprise at her abruptness, but never the less we still chanted. "Yes, President Coin."

"Good." She said. "Now you are dismissed follow Padma, and she will assign you you're living quarters.

Padma, the monotone lady who directed us here, turned and said curtly, "Follow me."

We wound our way through the building once more, and came across a pair of elevators. We descended deeper, and entered a floor with a long hallway and a lot of doors. One by one Padma paired us up, and sent us to our compartments. Naturally we sidled up to each other, and were assigned together with the people we wanted; Katniss with Rue, Cato and I, Thorne and Blair, Sabra and Emmer, Tekk and Jute, and surprisingly Clove and Drake.

Cato and I explored our apartment together. We had one at the end of the hallway, next to Sabra and Emmer, and across from Tekk and Jute. In our apartment was a loveseat with a stand and a lamp next to it. There was a small T.V., which is used for announcements only, and small heater that radiated a lot of heat for being so tiny. On the far end were two openings; one on the left, and one to the right.

On the right was the kitchen. There was a tiny fridge and three cabinets that were filled with rationed food. Across from the fridge was a stove, and two countertops on either side.

Through the left was the bathroom and another doorway. The bathroom had a shower/bath combo and a sink with a vanity mirror above. I noticed, as I am sure Cato did too, that the shower was big enough for the both of us, but small enough to where we would have to be close together to fit in the shower combo together.

Through the one door in the entire apartment was the bedroom. Located directly behind the living room, and flanked by half of the bathroom and kitchen on each side, the apartment itself, was very symmetrical. In the bedroom was two twin sized beds with, what do you know, grey bedding. On the plus side there was a multitude of pillows and a closet. In the closet were two pairs of grey clothing for the both of us. A grey sweatshirt, t-shirt, and tank-top, along with sweatpants and slacks. I wondered what was up with the grey, but the night was growing heavy and I need to finish my sleep.

Cato disappeared to lock the front door, and return locking the bedroom door behind him. We took one glance at the beds and immediately pushed the two beds together. We placed the spare pillows in the crack, and spread out one of the comforters over the two beds as one unit. I was the first to strip down to my scibbies and jump into bed, the soft grey comforter floating back down on top of me. Cato quickly followed my lead, and he clapped the lights off. He wrapped his arms around me, and kissed my forehead after whispering goodnight.

That was the first night I slept in pure bliss.

Ohohoho the plans I have for the next chapter. Hehe. As you can probably guess, the next chapter is going to be entirely smut. I personally think it's time to get freaky!

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Please, Please, Please reivew!