Fate, or Something Like It

This is a major AU taking place in the current time. Katniss is in her 3rd year of college when she meets Peeta and goes on a journey to find true love. Everlark

DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Hunger Games, no copyright infringement is intended.

A/N: WOW, I wasn't expecting so many people to want me to continue! Thanks, you guys are great! Anyway, I've decided to do a few more chapters instead of just one. Enjoy! :)

Chapter 10: Realizations

Peeta's POV:

A split second after I felt my fist collide with Cato's face, I saw Katniss collapse on his bed. I went to rush over to her, but Cato wasn't having it.

"Fuck! I think you broke my nose!" He swung at me, and I ducked out of the way at the last moment.

"You bastard! Katniss just blacked out or something and all you can think about is your nose? You deserved that! Now, what the hell did you give her?"

Cato was tilting his head back to stem the blood flowing from his nose. "Nothing! I mean, she just drank way too much, that's all."

I glared at him and rushed over to her still form. I carefully listened for her pulse, it was there and steady. She was okay, she had just passed out from the alcohol. Relief flooded over me as I collected her into my arms.

I turned to Cato before I left. "Don't ever, EVER, touch her again! Don't even talk to her! I will fuck you up, that's a promise."

The pathetic bastard just moaned.

I carried Katniss out of the apartment and searched her pockets for her car keys. Nothing. I would have taken my own car, but I had taken it to the shop earlier for some maintenance. I couldn't carry Katniss all the way too her apartment, so I settled for taking her to my place, which was in the same complex as Cato's.

I somehow maneuvered her into my apartment and gently laid her down on my bed. I took off her shoes and set my trash can next to the bed. Next, I got a glass of water and two aspirin and placed them on the nightstand for when she woke up.

I was exhausted myself, but I wanted to take care of Katniss. I rolled her over onto her side in case she vomited in her sleep and then brushed a gentle kiss to her forehead. I probably should have slept on the couch, but I just couldn't leave her. So instead, I curled up next to her on my bed.

I watched her for a long time. Watched her even breathing, he chest rising and falling steadily. It was then that I realized it. I was in love with Katniss Everdeen. That realization astounded me. The very thing that I had been searching for in six months with Glimmer, I had found with Katniss in a fraction of the time.

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I knew, I was being woken up by the distinct sound of gagging.

I quickly reached for Katniss and leaned her over the trash can, making sure to hold her hair back as she vomited.

When she had relaxed again, I got a wet washcloth and cleaned her face and then got another one in case she threw up again.

I relaxed next to her again and fell back to sleep.

It was around three in the morning when I heard her retching again. Only this time, I wasn't quick enough, and she got some on her tank top.

I helped clean her up, but I was so exhausted that I didn't want to look for a new shirt for her to wear. Instead, I took off her top and threw it across the room.

I couldn't help but to look at her breasts, held up by a red silky bra. They were a perfect size, not too big and not too small. The perfect size for me to hold in my hand, but as much as I wanted to touch the soft weight of her breasts, I restrained myself. It wouldn't be right to take advantage of her like that.

I sighed to myself and quickly took off my own shirt and put it on her, before falling asleep practically spooned to her back.

Katniss' POV:

When I woke up the next morning I was aware of two things at once. The first was that the navy blue and gray bedspread that I was lying on was not mine. The second was that I was not alone.

I did the only thing that my confused mind could think of, I screamed.

The person lying next to me jumped up into a sitting position, startled by my scream.

It was Peeta. My mind raced for an explanation as to why I was in bed with Peeta. Oh, and wait, he had no shirt on. I also noticed that I was no longer wearing my tank top, but a blue T-shirt instead.

Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck! My brain was a scrambled mess and I could only remember bits and pieces of my night before. I recalled going to a party at Cato's, kissing him, him attempting to force himself on me, and then, an extremely blurry image of Peeta rushing into the room.

I groaned, trying to remember if Peeta and I had done anything last night. He didn't seem like the type that would take advantage of my drunken state, but maybe he was drunk too.

"Are you okay?" He looked at me with deep concern in his eyes.

"Head hurts and can't remember how I ended up here. We uh...I mean, we didn't...did we?"

Peeta blushed a scarlet shade of red. "You mean did we have sex?"

I nodded, almost afraid to know the answer.

He shook his head. "No, we didn't do anything."

Relief flooded throughout my body. However, I was still confused. "Why am I in your bed then?"

Peeta got out of bed and found a shirt to put on. I have to say that I was kind of disappointed. He had some really nice muscles. "It's kind of a long story. Basically, I heard that Cato was having a party and I knew that he liked to get girls drunk at his parties to loosen them up before putting the moves on them. I couldn't let that happen to you, so I got there as soon as I could and when I burst into his room, I became so enraged that I punched him."

He had done all of that, for me? "Wow..."

He held up a finger to show that he was going to continue. "You passed out, so I brought you over here because my car is in the shop and I couldn't carry you all the way to your apartment. I wanted to make sure you would be okay all night so I stayed here with you. Oh, and if you were wondering about the shirt, you puked on yours and I was too tired to get up so I gave you mine instead."

It took me a minute to understand all of the details of what he was saying to me. He had saved me from Cato. He had literally carried me to his apartment and stayed by my side to make sure that I would be okay. Gratitude rushed over me, but there was one thing that was still bothering me. "Wait, so you undressed me?"

Peeta's blue eyes widened. He opened and closed his mouth several times before finally speaking. "I'm...I'm sorry!"

I couldn't help but to laugh at him. I really wasn't angry with him. How could I be after all that he had done for me? "I'm not mad, but I do have one question...did you like what you saw?" I winked at him.

He threaded his fingers through his hair and I could tell that he was deciding whether or not he should answer my question. "Umm...I, umm...yes, yes I did."

I was kind of shocked that he admitted that. I was also pleased. However, my feelings for Peeta were still so complicated. It was obvious to me that he truly cared for me, and I had to admit that I like him, a lot, but after what had happened with Cato, I couldn't just jump into things with Peeta. It wouldn't be fair to either of us.

"Ha! I'll bet you did!"

Peeta squirmed uncomfortably. "Katniss...I want to tell you something."

No, whatever he wanted to say, I knew I wasn't ready for it yet. So I put my finger over his lips to stop him. "Not right now. Right now I am going to call Madge and have her pick me up. Thank you for everything you have done. I'll call you, okay?"

He looked so sad, but he nodded anyway.

Madge came to get me a few minutes later. When I saw her car in the parking lot, I gave Peeta a small smile and kissed his cheek. Before I shut the door behind me, I looked back and saw him still staring at me with the same sadness in his eyes.

Madge wanted to know everything that had happened to me. I told her all that I could remember plus what Peeta had said to me as well.

"Wait a minute! He took off your shirt?"

I laughed. "Yes, and apparently he liked what he saw."

Madge sighed. "Katniss, that guy is head over heels in love with you!"

"I don't think so. I think he likes me a lot, but he just got out of a relationship and I won't be his rebound."

She shook her head at me. "What the hell is wrong with you? The man beat up Cato and took care of you when you passed out and you say that he would just think of you as a rebound?"

Okay, so she had a point, but I just needed to give it some time. I had to sort out my own feelings for Peeta before jumping in to anything new.

A/N: Well, originally this was going to be the last chapter (with a happy ending). However, since I am going to continue, I had to draw things out a bit more. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. If you would like to follow me on tumblr (my fics aren't on there and I blog about all of my fandoms) please PM me and I'll send you the link. Thanks! :)