A/N: Thank you all for the reviews from the last chapter :) I wanted to follow up quickly so you weren't left in suspense too long. I apologize for any errors, I have no Beta, just my husband who tries his hardest to edit along with me.

Suzanne Collins owns the characters, I just borrowed them for a short time.

KATNISS POV

The first thing I realized was I was laying down, on something plush, maybe a bed? Yes, it was a bed, the sheets felt cool and calming around my body. Was it night already? My hand grazed against my jean shorts I had worn to the barbecue - was that just today? My head throbbed slightly and being disoriented wasn't helping. I let my eyes flutter open. It was still daytime, the light filtering through the window above my bed cast lazy afternoon shadows on the opposite wall. How did I get to my room? Was Peeta here? A quick glance to my right answered that question; he was sitting on a chair with his head buried in his hands. Something felt off, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"P-Peeta?" My voice was hoarse from sleep. His head shot up, the first thing I noticed was his eyes rimmed in red. Had he been crying? "What's going on? What time is it? Is the barbecue over?" He could sense the urgent tone in my voice.

"Um, I brought you home…it's about five o'clock, I think." His voice was soft and unsure, making the nervous pit in my stomach grow. "How are you? Is your head ok?"

"Yeah, it's a little foggy…did I hit my head or something? Is that why you brought me back to our house?" He gave me a sad smile, maybe because I referred to my apartment as ours? I felt like I had a million questions swimming around my head but the fog was preventing any answers. Before he could respond, I remembered something…something awful, I sucked in a sharp breath. "I had a dream, it was terrible. I had a dream my dad showed up…like to our house. And you were there! He sang to me." I felt the fear and sorrow wash over me, making it impossible to speak. I watched Peeta fidget nervously with his shirt, opening and closing his mouth like he was about to say something but deciding against it.

"He was older though, which is odd because every nightmare I've ever had with him in it, he was like I last saw him, I was the only one who aged. But now…now he was different. He had gray hair and wrinkles." I closed my eyes, willing myself to remember that image. I knew I would never get to see him like that, it was almost a treat to see how my life could have been. I shook my head in dismay, it's better to not think like that.

Peeta squirmed in his chair, attempting to find a comfortable spot before settling on just standing. "Katniss, I need to tell you something. I should have told you a long time ago, when I realized how much I cared for you. No, no…I should have told you even before that." He's mumbling, almost talking more to himself than me, scrubbing his hand over his face.

"Just spit it out, you're making me nervous." I cautiously chuckled. "Peeta, there's nothing you can tell me that will make me love you any less."

His eyes bore into mine. "Do you mean that? Like honest to God mean that? Because I will always love you, and I never, ever want to hurt you or for you to be hurt. That's how this whole thing got so fucked up. I was trying to protect you. Please remember that ok? It was all because I love you."

My heart fluttered and I felt like every part of my body started to swell in anticipation. He continued to pace around my tiny bedroom, but now he wouldn't look at me. "Ok, I promise to remember." He seemed satisfied and sat down, taking my hands in his.

"What I'm about to tell you is going to be hard for you to comprehend at first. Just let me get this all out and we can talk about it." I nodded, but my face was contorted into a worried expression. What could possibly be so terrible? "Your dad is alive." I immediately drew my hands back and gaped at him.

"Stop it Peeta, that isn't funny." There was an edge to my voice, a careful warning but he didn't abide.

"He stumbled upon a mob burial ground one day in the woods while you were at school. Apparently it belonged to a mob boss named Snow who found out your father had gone to the police. He started sending your dad pictures of you and Prim and your dad became worried for your safety." Peeta spoke slowly and deliberate.

"Shut up, seriously." I scoot back on my bed, creating additional distance between the two of us. My anger had started to reach the surface.

"The FBI had given him the option to put your entire family in Witness Protection, but your father decided against it, he said Snow would find you all regardless. He opted to fake his own death, with help from the FBI. Snow died a few months ago and he came to find you and Prim…"

"STOP!" I was fully off the bed now, I hurried to my door. I couldn't hear anymore. I could feel the tears prick behind my eyes but I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me cry. "Why are you doing this Peeta?" He looked at me, his face full of remorse but he wouldn't justify his remarks. I thought for a second he was going to stop me from leaving but I gave him a preemptive shove that caused him to stumble backwards and land on the floor. I hustled out the door towards the kitchen, suddenly needing a glass of water. That's when I saw him, sitting on my couch like it was something he did daily. I stopped in my tracks and couldn't peel my gaze from the dark figure nestled a few feet away, staring just as intently at me.

"Finally." He simply stated, voice full of emotion.

"Dad?" I couldn't stop the tears now, it was like the dam broke and they flowed fast and harsh down my cheeks. He abruptly rushed to me and threw his arms around my body, squeezing so hard that I struggled to breathe.

He loosened his grip with a hearty chuckle. "Sorry, I've been waiting thirteen years to do that." His face was wet with tears as well, he brushed them brusquely with his stubby callused fingers. We stared at each other for what felt like hours but was probably minutes. His face was the same shape, just fuller looking. His normally dark hair was now peppered with white and gray. The skin that was typically so dark from being outside in the woods was now a light tan, telling me he didn't venture out much. I always remembered his dark blue eyes, appearing almost stormy, the sparkle seemingly faded with age...or loss. Everything about him was so familiar yet foreign.

My instinct was to let him swallow me in another hug, it felt safe and comfortable…it was a wish come true. But I couldn't propel my body to get closer. He still felt like an illusion, a mirage that would dissipate once I let myself believe it was reality. I could tell he sensed my hesitancy.

"I know this must seem really…strange." He willingly took another step back. Strange? Strange would be your father having a crush on one of your friends - this was unreal. Unnerving. Unbelievable. About a million other better adjectives could have been used instead of 'strange.' The fact that he seemed to belittle the situation struck a nerve with me.

"Um, you died. We all thought you were dead! Mom-mom lost it, she killed herself thinking you were dead!" I could feel the anger from before thumping in my chest as I brought my hands to my sides in tight little fists. "Death is final dad! You…you tricked us!" I huffed out.

His face fell, he took a step forward then thought against it. "I had to sweetie, Snow, he would've found you and Primmy. He would have killed you both, I never could've lived with myself if that had happened."

"Yeah, yeah Peeta filled me in…so you decided leaving a gaping hole in my heart was a better option? Do you realize how much damage you caused? Mom never functioned again, I did everything for Prim and me to survive. What other twelve year old do you know goes out in the woods to hunt for squirrels so they don't starve? No. This isn't happening." I waved my arms in front of me with such force I was afraid I was going to hit anything within two feet of me.

"I honestly didn't think your mom would react that way. If I would have known she wouldn't provide for you two girls, I would have gambled with Witness Protection. I only found out about her death a few years ago." I could see the regret traced in each line that creased his face, but it wasn't enough.

"You left us. Did you even care?" I couldn't even see anymore, my vision clouded with tears and anguish. How could he think he could just come back now? Essentially turning every part of me, every belief, on it's head? So much of my personality centered on that day, the day he died. Who was I now?

"Of course I did! How could you even ask me that? I tried to keep tabs on you girls and did a pretty good job. I even have a savings account for both of you, it's yours if you decide you want me in your life or not. You can spend that money on whatever you want." He attempted a smile but it only came off as a grimace.

"You think I want your money? Not only do I not want it, I don't even need it! Look around! I'm making it on my own, like always! I put myself and Prim through college! I got us a place to live and dinner on the table. Fuck you!" I spat, struggling to maintain my composure any longer. I felt a pair of warm arms pull around my middle, I swung my head around so fast, my braid struck Peeta in the face. With everything that had happened I totally forgot he was here. I buried myself in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably while he stroked my back. It was the only place I felt sure I was safe, like he said, he tried to protect me from all of this.

Suddenly it dawned on me…how did he know about all this?

"That wasn't a dream was it? My dad showed up at Finnick's place and you tried to stop him ..." My voice was thick and hoarse from crying. I still tried to catch his reaction through my tear soaked eyelashes.

"Yes. Finnick and I tried to keep him from you, but we failed." He hung his head down in shame, but it wouldn't break my resolve.

"How did you know it was him? All you knew was my father was dead, did he just like, show up and say 'I'm Katniss's dad' and you believed him?"

His eyebrows furrowed and he drew his mouth into a tight line. "No, it wasn't like that…"

I hastily interrupted, "how was it like? Wait, you," I pointed to my dad, "you said you kept tabs on me. Did you know Peeta was my boyfriend and sought him out to get closer to me?" It all made sense now. I couldn't believe Peeta would agree to anything like that, I looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to tell me he denied the request from my long lost father. Peeta glanced at my dad, then back to me, apparently at a loss for words.

"Katniss, I hired Peeta. He works with Finnick, and I asked him to tell me how you were, emotionally. I couldn't show up again and have you break down like your mother." My dad's gruff voice was still the same one I remembered years ago, it softened me for a second before I was flooded with more questions.

"With Finnick? He cleans pools." I brought my attention back to Peeta, his face was red and splotchy.

"Finnick is a Private Investigator." I almost didn't hear him, he spoke so quietly.

"A Private Investigator?! What the fuck Peeta? Why would you lie about something like that?" The beautiful picture of my future with Peeta started to chip and crack.

"I didn't want you questioning why I was in your life. When I met you, I felt this connection but I didn't think it would turn into this." He motioned between us. "I love you Katniss, more than anything. You know that. I only lied because I was trying to protect you from your painful past." I could see his eyes turn glassy with unshed tears. He let his thumb drag across my cheek but I shook him off. That simple act of rejection seemed to shatter his demeanor - he cried openly now. "Please, don't let this break us. We're stronger than this…"

"Stronger than this? What is this exactly? Tell me, when did the lies start? How much of this was made up to get the information needed for a man that abandoned us thirteen years ago?" He flinched with each question, like they were bullets slicing through his heart.

"It's-it's not that simple…" he stuttered.

"Answer the goddamn question Peeta!" I hissed.

"I hadn't even met you yet. The 'job' that Delly questioned us about yesterday? That was you. I used Delly's class to get in to your work so I could meet you and hope to befriend you. But I never, ever expected to fall in love with you. I tried to tell you so many times but it never seemed like the right time…"

"The right time? I'm sorry, this is just…the whole time Peeta? The whole fucking time you knew?!" My fingers wrapped around the hairs at the top of my skull, I pulled them in hopes to feel something…anything. I was just numb. "It would figure the first time I get a real boyfriend it was all fake." I fell into the couch, letting all the information that was thrown at me sink in. My dad is alive. Peeta lied to me. Peeta only was with me to get information for my allegedly dead dad.

Peeta tried to sit next to me but I pushed him away. I could hear his voice catch with each sob, he seemed to really feel repulsed at the situation, but was that enough? "I told you trust was the most important thing to me, and you lied to me from day one. I don't even know who you are. In fact, I asked you yesterday for the truth, and you still lied." My tone was more defeated than harsh.

The Pope could have walked in doing ballet and it wouldn't have fazed me.

"I'm me, I never changed who I was when I was around you. That's why your dad hired me instead of Finnick, he knew you wouldn't fall for his bullshit. He wanted someone genuine." He was pleading with me now.

I huffed out a bitter laugh. My dad still knew me after all these years. "A genuine person wouldn't lie to someone they supposedly love. What was in it for you by the way?"

"I know you're mad, you have every right to be, but don't for one second question my love for you." His voice was low but firm. "And I didn't know it was your father, he was very secretive about his identity. I didn't find out it was him until a week ago. When I discovered the truth I took myself off the case and vowed to protect you." I wanted so badly to cup his face with my hands, to kiss the tears away - but it all seemed tainted now.

"So you didn't get anything from him?" I felt this one question would determine everything.

"I technically completed the job when I told him you had fully mourned his loss and were thriving. I'm not going to lie, I was paid handsomely. I was planning on using the money to buy out my brothers. I was only thinking of us Katniss! Once the bakery was all mine, I was going to start saving for a house for us, a future…for us." He was so earnest. I fought the need to touch him, to reassure him everything was going to be fine, that I could forgive him. Was that what he was asking for? Forgiveness? He fully expected us to come out of this together. Is that what I thought as well?

"But you were saving for the bakery even before you met me." I replied flatly.

"Yes, that's why I initially took the job, but once I realized I loved you…well, it changed things." He ran his hands through his hair, repeating the motion so many times it started to stick up from the collected moisture from his palms.

For a full minute I saw it, I saw the white picket fence, the plush green yard, the happy couple waving at their neighbors as they walked their dog on the sidewalk. For that minute I let the image breath new life into me, I let it feed my soul with a joyous ambiance that I knew could never be rivaled by any other emotion as long as I lived. There was a warmth in it, a contentedness that I'd never felt, never knew I wanted. I let my eyes wander to his face, his beautiful face that was stained with an impenetrable pain. He searched me, every part of me, looking for any semblance of longing or forgiveness. I knew he would find none.

The image of our dream future completely exploded and all the pieces scattered through my veins, ripping and tearing me apart from the inside out. It would never be. I was a fool for even thinking I could have something that ideal. I looked from my weary father to my tormented boyfriend, there was so much suffering in this room that I struggled to breathe, or maybe I had just started sobbing again. Nothing felt real anymore, the emotions I was experiencing seemed to be a bi-product of what my body assumed I should be feeling. The only two men I had fully trusted had failed me miserably. It seemed I only had one lesson to learn in life: I could only count on myself. I was right to be hateful and resentful, to push people away. I had it right all along, it was Annie who had it backwards.

Fuck. Annie.

She still believed Finnick was a womanizer turned love-fool, working as a pool boy. I had to warn her.

"I have to leave." I saw the panic thread through both Peeta and my dad's faces. "Don't worry, I'm not taking my keys, I'm just going outside to get some fresh air. I need to think." I jogged to my room to grab my phone and rushed out the front door. I quickly located her in my contacts and called ...

Fuck, voicemail. I texted 'urgent!' and 'pick up!' a dozen times before she called me.

"Katniss! Are you ok? I saw you fall and Peeta rushed you out of here so quickly but assured me you were alright." I could tell by the sound of her voice she was still clueless to our predicament. I felt a pang of jealousy shoot through me.

"I'm fine, listen to me Annie. You need to get to our apartment as fast as you can. Do you understand? Get. Here. Now." I hung up and slid myself against the wall until I was in a sitting position. I hated that I had to be the one to tell her about the betrayal we were victim to. It seemed unjust since she was doing so well now. But she had a right to know.

Only a few minutes later I saw Finnick's half rusted Dodge Dart sail into the parking lot. Annie jumped out and rushed over to me, Finnick staying a cautious distance behind her. Asshole.

I grabbed her in a tight embrace, whispering in her ear, "Finnick is a Private Investigator, he and Peeta were getting information about me for my father." She jerked back and looked at me astonished. I leaned back into her hair, "Yes, I know, they're both in the apartment right now. Tell Finnick you need to stay with me, that I'm not feeling well. I'll fill you in about everything else when we're alone." She nodded slowly, turning to Finnick who was now right behind her. Much to her credit, she calmly told him she needed to stay with me and she'd text him later tonight. I could see the skepticism play across his features, but he simply gave her a hug and kiss, then turned towards his car.

I grabbed Annie by the hand and we went inside. I could tell she didn't fully believe me about my dad until she saw him standing there. I felt her tense beside me, but still she pushed us forward, puffing her chest and lifting her chin in the air. I was incredibly thankful for the calmness she possessed at this moment. I needed any semblance of courage with all the shocking developments.

"Peeta…dad…I need to be alone. I need to think about everything that's happened." They both nodded but I could see the doubt in Peeta's eyes.

"Promise me Katniss, that you aren't going to run away from me. Run away from something that could be the best thing to happen to both of us in our entire lives." Peeta grasped my hands and I let him. I knew my acceptance would lead to cooperation on his part. "I love you, that is the truest statement that has ever crossed my lips. Promise me you believe that and trust in us." He squeezed my hands firmly before kissing the back of each.

"I promise."

They shuffled out of the apartment and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

It turns out I could lie just as easily.