Hi, I know it's been ages since the last chapter and for all of you who do not follow my facebook page there is a very good reason for this: I had no internet. One of the power cords broke in half (amazing right? No idea that could happen) so that took ages for them to replace, then my wifi system became hit and miss- all in all it's been a very bad time for me. Please do not hold this against me. -L

Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air

Chapter 14

I stood off to the side of the waiting area with Finnick, Peeta and Effie. It was the same room that I met Haymitch in when I finished the chemical shower but now we were all waiting for Annie and Baby Viktor. Would they put the baby through the same chemical shower? Or would they dilute it? Perhaps they use something else entirely? I hope they don't use the same chemical shower on the poor dear, it stings like hell.

Finnick held the icepack up to his face, but I could see the pride and joy shinning in his one good eye as he stared at the door Annie is suppose to walk through. "Finnick…" I began slowly, hoping that Peeta and Effie wouldn't hear me. "I really am sorry about your eye."

At that he chuckled and removed the ice pack to look down at me. We stood off to the side while Peeta and Effie had settled into the couches and were engrossed in talking. Part of me wanted to snuggle up to my fiancés side and just listen to him talk, but another part of me-a stronger part-thought that it would be best to keep a bit of distance for awhile until he could at least look me in the eye. "I told you to punch me if you felt like it. I wouldn't have said it if I wasn't prepared for your swing Katniss." He ruffled my hair. "I know you."

"I still feel bad-I mean here you are going to see your wife and son for the first time in, what a year? And she's going to see that-that black eye!" I felt my face heat up at the shame. How could I have been so dim to forget that?

What would Annie think when she sees his eye?

"Katniss! Relax." He shoved the ice pack into my face and I felt my nose bend a bit to the side. "Annie and I…if she's annoyed over this," He placed the ice back on his eye. "She's just going to have to get over seeing it because she won't even be able to go take a piss without seeing me."

I covered the huge grin on my face with the back of my hand; that was the ever charming Finnick. I glanced up at him to see a smile on his face and shrugged, his happiness was contagious and soon I was excited to see Annie again and his little boy.

What does he look like?

Does Baby Viktor have his father's naturally handsome good looks?

Or his mother's soft, lovely features?

His eyes will most definitely be green but will they be like the sea, or more green like his mothers?

Will his hair be dark?

Or more bronze like?

"You're going to be glued to Viktor aren't you?" Finnick asked, but before I could say a thing the door opened and out stepped Annie holding Baby Viktor in her arms.

"Annie." Was all Finnick said before he dashed over to her and picked her up then crushed her and his son to his chest. It was a wonderful sight, they were laughing and crying and kissing and-I turned around to give them some privacy.

"Katniss." A soft gentle voice, I recognized as Effie's called my name. Still smiling I looked up at her to see her beckoning me over. Hastily I walked over and she patted my cheek. "Let's give them some space." With that said, she led both Peeta and I out onto the promenade deck.

Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air

"He's so happy." I stated to no one in particular as we strolled over to the set of tables and sat down. Finnick was exceedingly happy to have his family back in his arms and I can't say I'm not excited for him as well! A whole year without seeing his wife and baby, I don't know how he did it. He is a much better person than I am. My eyes cut over to Peeta who was dragging his feet to the table, Effie and I already seated. It hurts my heart to not be able to cuddle up to my fiancé, it feels like my heart is being weighed down by ten thousand tons of sand and yet Finnick had to be away for a whole damn year and his spirits-from what I've seen-hasn't wavered.

He remained faithful, loving and kept his mind on the main problem.

Something I haven't been able to do since Peeta turned Ice King on me last night.

"Fuck…" Peeta rasped as he stumbled over to his chair and grabbed the back of the chair.

I watched in frozen horror as Peeta gasped and bent over the chair, one hand clamped over his forehead the other griped the back of the chair. His eyes shut in pain and he tried to take deep breaths and I knew he was having a flashback.

"Peeta…" I whispered but I couldn't move.

Why can't I ever move when someone I love is experiencing pain?

I'm Katniss Everdeen; I was willing to die for him in the games why can't I do anything right anymore?

Why do I keep hurting the ones I love?

"Katniss shhh." Effie gently took my right hand in her own and squeezed my fingers before she began making soft cooing sounds and Peeta came back to us. "There you go, are you okay now?" She reached out to him and shakily he gave her his hand to hold as he took his seat.

I wanted to touch him; to hold him like I use to. I was the one who would help him after the flashbacks, why should it change? "Peeta…" I removed my hand from Effie's and slowly placed it on his.

One good sign was that he didn't pull away; bad sign, he didn't even look at my face. But I contented myself with playing with his fingers.

"Okay, I think we could all use some nice hot tea." Effie patted our shoulders and stood up. "I'm going to go find a waiter. Stay right here you two."

Patiently I waited until she went inside before looking up at Peeta, who conveniently was staring out at the sky. Why won't he look at me? Well no more! Nervously-my hand actually shook-I grabbed his chin and pulled his face down to mine. "Peeta please." I begged. "You just had an…an episode…you haven't had one in months-we really need to talk about this bec-"

"Not now." And he jerked out of my grasp and retracted his arm.

"When then?"

"Later."

"Peeta this isn't like you. W-"

"You're right, this isn't like me. But tell me Katniss how am I suppose to act when the Captain of this fucking ship is after my girlfriend and she actually swooned after him?!"

I gasped, affronted. "I didn't swoon!"

"Oh? So you didn't fall for his f-"

"NO! I didn't!" I can't believe this! He's accusing me of actually being interested in Johnny? What the hell?!

"OH WHOA HO!" We whirled around to see Gale standing there holding a tray of teacups and cookies. "Troubles really brewing in paradise! Ouch!" His eyes darted between Peeta and me and fascination was plainly written on his face.

"Not now Gale." I warned darkly.

He didn't take the hint but instead strutted up to us with a stupid grin on his face. "I'm just saying Catnip; things are looking stormy over here." His voice dropped low as he slid the tray onto the table and claimed Effie's seat. "Very stormy." He stared at Peeta with a taunting yet sympathetic look. "Poor poor Bread Boy losing his girl to someone bigger."

Peeta opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by a loud buzzing noise.

"This is your Captain speaking. My apologies for that but be prepared for many more. We are now leaving the harbor and I would like to explain some emergency procedures with you." I looked up at the wall to my left and saw a built in speaker, but no camera. "In case of an emergency there will be seven short blasts and one long blast of the ship's whistle. This is the emergency signal. If you hear this you will report to your muster station which is located on the outdoor promenade deck, or any of the public gathering rooms. If you panic and cannot locate any of the muster stations please find your way to the lifeboats." He took a short break before resuming his no-doubt memorized speech. "Once at said muster station a senior officer will direct you further. Please read the instructions located on every deck in the public rooms instructing you on where and how to put on the lifejackets if such time arises." After this he paused for a few seconds. "You may have noticed that there is a large translucent like bubble encasing this liner. Please do not try to damage it. If you are caught attempting to inflict anything, even a scratch, you will be marooned on the next island. If said island does not appear within twenty-four hours you will be abandoned in the ocean with nothing but a lifeboat and one shotgun with one bullet. That bubble is in place for you as well as the crew's safety. With that said please enjoy your stay." And then the announcement ended.

Well that was short, abrupt and to the point wasn't it?

"Alright did you three hear that?" Effie's voice came from somewhere off to the side with a waiter a few paces behind her. He was a young man holding a semi-larger platter, which didn't make any since because Gale had brought the tea and cookies himself.

Slowly I nodded but my eyes were trained on Peeta and Gale; the tension was growing a bit too think too quick for my comfort and I know one of them is going to spark that little fuse as soon as the opportunity presented itself. "Yeah, uh Effie I think Peeta and I will take our snack in our room." I moved to stand up only to have Peeta's hand shackle me to the table.

"No, that's alright. I'm going to go lie down. You can sit here and chat with Gale." He spat out the last bit as though it were burning his tongue and then released my hand.

I watched as he stood up, his movements jerky and ridged. "Peeta please." I begged, no longer ashamed of our not-so-private-problems anymore. Why should I be? Obviously Gale knows, and if he does so does Effie because she's perceptive as hell. "We should talk."

"I don't want to talk." Peeta set his jaw and looked over my head.

"But you don't know the half of it Peeta! You're not listening to me!"

"I've listened enough!" He raised his voice and locked eyes with me, which was terrifying in of itself. The rage that flowed in his eyes, it was scary. I've never witness his pure anger before; I avoided his eyes in favor of looking at his throat-my favorite place to nuzzle my nose-but regretted it immediately. There I saw his veins throb as he tried to control himself; I watched in fascination as he swallowed and took deep breaths before speaking again, this time more quietly. "I've heard you complain about Gale, I've watched you glare at him," He pointed at Gale's forehead. "Then you suddenly try and befriend that asshole again. Then you tell me the fucking Captain of this thing wants you to dump my sorry, crazy ass for him. How the hell do you think I'm going to feel Katniss? How?" His voice was a low hiss.

I wished he were yelling again.

"But Peeta I love you. You. You're the one I want to be with and make a life with. Not-"

"He's a Captain Katniss. He has a damn ship, he's fawning over you, he sends you gifts." He picked up a saucer Effie's waiter brought when I wasn't looking and shoved it into my face. "Read it." Curiously I tilted my head down to see what he was talking about.

Damn.

Blasted Captain Johnny!

Damn you to hell!

Written in some sort of cream on the slice of cake were the words: My beautiful Katniss, won't you join me for tea this evening? Enjoy the cheesecake and jam. –Captain Johnny

"Well well Catnip's gone and found herself an admirer hm?" Gale leaned over close to my shoulder to read the cake. "Captain sure is smooth. Going to go for that tea?" He asked lightly, but when I met his eyes I knew that question was anything but innocent. If I said yes, I was sealing my fate without Peeta. He would never sit and listen to me; but if I said no and avoided the Captain he could very well dump me into the ocean. After all the passengers have made it more than clear that my name has no weight around here; they wouldn't stop him.

I studied the message again; won't you join me for tea this evening? Well, he requests my company. But he didn't say that I had to be alone now did he? Could this be opportunity knocking to clear the air with Peeta? "Peeta will you come with me?" I ask, my eyes begging him to say yes.

Peeta scoffed and leaned off of the table. "To watch him fawn over my supposed fiancé? No thanks. I'll be in…our suite."

Rejected.

My darling fiancé rejected me.

I held back a sob; Peeta never rejected me before. Never. This was the first time he's ever been snarky, or rude or ever the slightest bit plain mean to me.

Is this really happening? All because of the damn Captain?

Unable to not watch him, I watched as Peeta left the deck without a backwards glance.

"Miss?" The young waiter who brought the cake stood beside me, the platter now held up as a make-shift clipboard with a pen poised in his hand to write something.

"Hm?"

"Will you be accepting the Captain's invitation?"

At that I almost snorted, but didn't. Instead I huffed and waved him off. "No. No I will not be joining him for tea that sneaky bast-"

"Katniss!" Effie's shrill voice cut me off. "We must not speak that way! Ladies must not speak that way!" She lightly thwacked me on cheek with her folded napkin, but it was obvious she wanted to do more. "He is a most gracious Captain and you young lady must learn some respect." I felt her eyes glaring at me even though I stared at the cake. "Thank Captain Johnny for us but sadly, Katniss must decline his offer. It was most hospitable of him though." And with that said, she sent the waiter away.

I felt a heat work its way into my cheeks in shame; Effie not only admonished me she did it in front of Gale, who couldn't control his damn laughter! There he sat in his chair laughing his ass off at me, full on snorting with tears in his eyes.

Bastard.

I didn't laugh when he was getting lectured, can't he do me the same courtesy?

"Honestly Katniss! How can you be so…so rude?!" Effie hissed, this time I looked up at her. Her pale face was red in anger and I knew I wasn't going to be let off lightly.

"Dear Captain Johnny is being a complete ass!" I muttered back, my voice full of sarcasm. "It's because of him that Peeta and I-"

"It's because of him we are here and alive today and not dead Katniss." She stood up ridged, her voice cold. "It will do well for you to remember that." And then she left without a backward glance.

Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air Trapped In A Bubble Made Of Air

L.

Again, I apologize for the lack of updates but what do you think will happen?

How do you think this will end?

All constructive and unconstructive criticism welcome.