Here we go, second chapter today! 8D Over 30 reviews! *Victory dance*

Chapter Ten

Katniss's POV

"I'll protect you. Always." It's not in my nature to trust people when they make promises, but just now, I know that Peeta means it.

I go to push away again but he puts his hand against my back, keeping me right where I am. "Peeta, please. I… I just don't know. I already told you that I don't want to play with your emotions. I'm sorry…" I try to stand up but he doesn't let me.

"Katniss, you don't need to love me. The fact that you care makes a world of difference anyway. Remember, we watch out for each other. How many times have you told me that the past few months?" I melt inside when he says that. I'm confused enough as it is without Peeta telling me stuff like this. It's even harder to sort my feelings out when the images of all my lost love ones are still floating around in my head. Before I can stop myself, I choke up another sob.

"Hey, hey, shh… What's wrong?" He holds me and rocks back and forth… The same way he would back on the train, traveling through the districts.

"I… I just can't… I wish I could forget it all. The mine explosion, the look on Prim's face before she died… How do you do it? Peeta, how do you come to terms with everything that's happened?" I sob into his shirt as he continues to rock me.

"Well, I guess that's just the trick isn't it. You don't just forget. You can't just 'come to terms' with it all. You're not always okay at first. I didn't 'fall back' in love; it takes time to recover. Just remember Katniss, I love you, and no one is taking that away from you this time."

Okay, so that one was super short because I don't have a whole lot of time and there's a much longer one coming up.

Shout out time! :D

Tabitha22: Haha don't worry. It's not *that* creepy. I think anyone who could tolerate this story is an obsessive THG fan.

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