A/N I'm so glad you like the story! Keep reading! KEEP REVIEWING! I'm taking your comments into account when I write my chapters! Also, this chapter is a little steamy. I hope you can handle it ;)

Katniss pulled away sharply, Peeta leaning forward to follow her as she broke off the kiss. Alarm flooded her face as she thought about what she just did.

I just kissed Peeta.

"I…" she trailed off, not knowing what to say. "I apologize," she said slowly. "I don't normally let my emotions run away with me-"

Cutting her off, Peeta grabbed her face with both his hands and pulled her back to him for another kiss. Katniss squeaked with surprise, before sinking into the kiss and placing her hands on his chest, gripping his shirt and pulling him closer.

Katniss had only kissed him like this during the quarter quell. She remembered what it was like to have his lips on hers as his hands dove into her hair. His tongue dove into her mouth and she welcomed it with hers as she moved her hands up towards his face.

For a moment they didn't care. He didn't care that she was a servant from district 12. She didn't care that Snow would probably kill her for doing this. They needed each other in that moment.

Katniss slowly laid down on the couch, gripping Peeta's shirt and pulling him on top of her. He sank his body into hers, running his hands up and down her waist. She felt safe with him, in contrast to Cato who had been doing the same thing only a few minutes ago. She welcomed Peeta gladly, wrapping her arms around his neck.

His leg moved in between her two legs, and she welcomed it by hitching her calf up around his waist. Katniss gasped for air as he kissed her neck delicately, not causing any pain to the bruises inflicted only moments ago.

Katniss moved her hands to begin unbuttoning his shirt, losing herself in him. Peeta responded hungrily, touching the hem of her dress, when suddenly, they heard a knock at the door.

"Peeta?" A female voice called from the outside.

"M'Busy…" Peeta managed to say before Katniss pulled his head back down for another kiss.

"It's Glimmer, open up we need to talk!"

Katniss and Peeta froze, looking at each other, the weight of their previous activity finally hitting them. Peeta jumped up, fixing his hair and buttoning up his shirt while Katniss leaned up on the couch and pulled her dress back down.

Peeta looked at her. He opened his mouth to say something, but Katniss just shook her head.

"It's fine," she told him casually. "You really should get that." She stood up off the couch and looked at him.

They ignored the pounding on the door for another few seconds and stared at each other, both wondering what to do next.

Instead of speaking, Katniss touched his face gently and walked over to the door, opening it and allowing Glimmer to walk in.

"It's about time," Glimmer said, throwing a dirty look at Katniss. "Peet, where'd you go last night?" She asked as she crossed the room to where Peeta was standing. "I lost you near the tribute parade center."

Peeta blinked rapidly. "I'm sorry, I..." he trailed off, still distracted by Katniss, before snapping back to reality and looking at Glimmer. He smiled at her. "I'm sorry, darling, I bumped into someone who didn't know the way around town. I had to help her out."

Glimmer looked at him, annoyed. "A girl?" She asked, furiously.

"Yes, Glimmer, it was a girl," Peeta said, annoyed. "Am I not allowed to interact with other girls now?"

"Interact with whoever you want, Mr. President," Glimmer responded, slinking her arms around his neck. "But you're only allowed to kiss me…" she said, leaning in for a kiss. Katniss looked down, not able to watch as Glimmer pecked him on the lips.

Peeta broke away quickly, his eyes flickering to Katniss.

"That's weird…" Glimmer muttered.

"What's weird?" Peeta asked.

"Your lips… they taste different," Glimmer started. "Smokey somehow."

Katniss blushed, realizing that was her cue to leave. She walked out the door, throwing a quick glance over her shoulder at Peeta… who was watching her.

He looked sad to watch me go.

After a visit to Prim, Katniss sat on her bed, reflecting on the day. A large yawn reminded her of Cato's attack… she had practically forgotten about it after kissing Peeta.

Before her mind could run away any further, Katniss stood up and changed into her long sleeve black night dress. She was tucking herself into bed when she felt a note under her pillow. She opened it slowly.

Katniss,

I miss you. When are you coming home? Did you meet with Plutarch? I'm sorry to have kept it from you. I knew it was wrong, but with Snow on your ass I thought it was the best idea. I'll see you on Friday night in the hovercraft. I bet you can't wait to get out of the capitol.

I love you,

Gale

Gale. Katniss had forgotten about Gale. She had only been in the capitol for a couple of days, and yet he almost seemed like a faint memory. He really cares about you. He cares about Prim. Why can't you love him? She asked herself.

Peeta's face flashed through her mind.

Fluttering her eyes shut, she attempted to sleep unsuccessfully, lying awake in bed for hours. She tossed and turned, but she had too many thoughts on her mind. Prim. Cinna. Mockingjay. Rebellion. Traitor. Peeta. Gale. Love. Tomorrow night…

Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. Two peacekeepers opened it, and she flung out of bed.

"You are required," A peacekeeper told her. "Grab your tools."

"What time is it?" She asked, getting out of bed and gathering some logs and a bag of coal.

"Just past 3 AM. The President is sick. He needs a fire."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo

Pain. Burning. A gentle touch. A whisper. "It's going to be okay." Pain. "I will never leave you, Peeta." Katniss' face, smeared with blood, smiling softly.

Peeta shot up in bed, panting. His face was covered with sweat. Apparently he had been screaming through this recurring nightmare, since the Presidential guards came flying in, flickering on the lights.

"Are you okay, Mr. President?" Octavia, his personal assistant, asked him.

Peeta took a deep breath, his head beginning to severely ache. "I don't feel so well," he told her honestly.

"Call the doctor," Octavia snapped her fingers. "It might be pneumonia, it's been far too chilly out here. Get him some tea, and someone who can make a fire."

Peeta's eyes shot up, looking at Octavia. "No, no fire, that's not necessary." I don't want Katniss to see me like this.

"Nonsense," Octavia said, pressing her ear and calling the proper people to get everything he needed.

Before he knew it, Servants surrounded Peeta's bed, offering him medicine, soup, toast, pillows, tea, new pajamas… Peeta began to feel overwhelmed, sweat building alongside his face. His headache was splitting, causing piercing pain. He heard his door open and knew that Octavia had summoned more servants.

"The fireplace is just over there. Get to work," He heard a voice command. He leaned up out of bed, his eyes catching Katniss' briefly before his view was covered by the mass amount of servants around his bedside.

Katniss' heart seized when she saw him covered in sweat and practically green. It was too familiar, it reminded her of the first games when he almost died in her arms from blood poisoning. She knelt down and began placing the logs slowly. Maybe I can get a moment alone with him…

The doors flew open again, crashing against the walls, as Glimmer came flying in. "Oh, baby!" She said, placing her hands on Peeta's face. "Are you sick?"

Peeta smiled fakely. "M'Fine, Glim," he said bitterly.

Glimmer looked around the room. "You have everything you need right here. I can stay with you all night if you like-"

"No," Peeta automatically said. "I don't think so, not tonight."

Glimmer, slightly offended, took her hands off his face. "Well, as long as you're perfect for the party tomorrow night," She said with an obnoxious grin.

Peeta leaned back into his pillows. "Everyone out," he commanded with his eyes closed. "Including you," he told Glimmer.

Glimmer stood up, snapping her fingers, and all the servants followed her. "See you tomorrow, babe," She said, blowing him a kiss.

Peeta was finally able to see Katniss, who had just barely began creating a fire. He had seen her make so many fires before, he knew she was taking her careful time.

A peacekeeper began walking towards her. "The President said out," he commanded.

Katniss looked up at the peacekeeper innocently. "But I'm not finished yet," she said, looking at Peeta with a hint of a smile.

Peeta, knowing exactly what she was doing, flicked his hand, showing the peacekeepers away. "I'll dismiss her when the fire is done," he said. With that, the peacekeepers left them alone.

Peeta sighed, relief flooding him as he simply held open his arms as Katniss crossed the room and flung herself into him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Are you okay?" She asked him, concern radiating in her voice.

He looked up at her, before pressing his forehead into her neck. She cradled his head in her arms, smoothing back his hair. Peeta began to breathe normally again.

She pulled back, looking at him. "What happened?" She asked him. "Do you really think its pneumonia?"

Peeta leaned back into his pillows again. "I had the dream again, Katniss."

Katniss' stomach churned. "Is this always what happens when you have the dr-"

"No," Peeta stopped her. "Don't do that."

"Don't do what?" Katniss asked with a smile.

"Try to blame yourself for this," Peeta answered, reaching his arm forward and cupping her cheek with his hand. "Something was different about it this time. I woke up screaming and in a sweat."

Katniss remembered all of her post-games dreams where she woke up the same way. Her hand automatically went up to his wrist, holding his hand on her face. "What was different?" She asked him.

"You…" He began. "Your face… it was… well it was covered in blood."

Katniss closed her eyes, remembering when Clove threw the knife at her. She had passed out due to blood loss by the time Peeta woke up. He must have seen her at her bloodiest. She opened her eyes again, looking at him fondly. Not knowing what to say, she smiled and stood up, crossing towards the sink. She filled a bowl with cold water and grabbed a towel. Then, she walked back over towards his bed. She sat on the side, dipping the towel in the water and dabbing it across his forehead. Peeta's eyes closed in relief. "That feels nice," he told her. She dabbed his face, his arms, his hands…

She worked her hands down to his chest, unbuttoning the buttons on his shirt until his torso was exposed. She skimmed her fingers over his body gently, before dabbing the towel lightly all over him.

"Better?" She asked.

"Much," Peeta said, opening his eyes.

Then, Katniss plopped the towel in the bowl and placed it on his nighttable, grabbing the medicine and his cup of water. She fed him the medicinal concoction and handed him the cup.

"This isn't sleep syrup, right?" Peeta asked.

Katniss smelled the empty vile. "It's half sleep syrup, half for the headache. It should help," she told him.

Peeta yawned. "How did you know that?"

Katniss smiled at him, brushing back his hair. "My mother's a healer."

Peeta suddenly sat up, realizing he barely knew anything about her. He looked at her, her dark hair surrounding her face and falling over her slim shoulders. Her blue eyes gazing at him lovingly.

"What does your dad do?" Peeta asked.

Katniss looked down. "He died in a mine explosion in twelve when I was younger."

Peeta looked at her. "I'm sorry," he said, watching her expression.

Katniss looked at the ceiling. "You know, people said that when he sang the birds stopped to listen. You know, the mockingjays… they stopped to listen." Her eyes began to turn red as tears threatened to form. "He taught me everything I know. I had to start providing for my family after he died. My mother really checked out."

Peeta touched her cheek, looking at her red eyes. "Are you crying?" He asked her.

Katniss looked at him. "No!" She said, wiping away a quick tear. "I'm not a big crier. I just don't really talk about my dad is all. It's funny…" she trailed off.

Peeta remembered the girl from the previous night, who wasn't a big crier either. He flicked away the thought in his mind, focusing on Katniss again.

"What's funny?" Peeta asked.

"It's funny that a man bruising me doesn't make me cry, but thinking about my dad and the mockingjays always can," She admitted.

They sat in silence, Peeta feeling his emotions for her grow deeper as she opened up to him.

"Katniss…" He finally whispered, placing his hand on her neck and pulling her forehead into his.

"Yes?" She whispered.

"Will you stay with me tonight?" He asked vulernably.

Without another word, Katniss crawled next to him and tucked herself under the covers. She placed her head on his chest and rested her hand on his stomach. He placed his arm around her, his other hand reaching over and holding the one placed on his stomach.

Katniss remembered being freezing in the cave, and only cuddling for body warmth. She remembered the nights on the train, when he stayed with her to protect her from nightmares. She smiled into his chest.

Peeta felt the familiarity of it as well. Feels like riding a bike he thought to himself. His headache began to slightly throb at that thought, yet the medicine quickly diluted the pain.

The two of them drifted off to sleep.

LONGEST CHAPTER YET! THE MORE REVIEWS, THE LONGER / SOONER THE CHAPTER WILL GO UP. TOMORROWS THE PARTY, WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL HAPPEN? I DO ;)