I just have one thing to say before I let you all read the chapter- to Loren Duke you cracked me up so bad when I read your comment. Don't worry its Peeta and Katniss I'm sure they wont go long without being with each other. I had a couple days off I'm was soooooo happy, I sat there all day and wrote this chapter out for you all. I wrote until my fingers fell off lol. I'm gonna try and post another chapter soon :). Please read and review I love them reviews, they are such a motivation.

Chapter 14

Welcome Party

I woke up the next morning with a strange stiffness in the back of my neck, I rolled my head around multiple times trying to rid myself of the small pain that lingered from sleeping on it the wrong way. I found myself in a large comfortable bed, curled up under a ton of blankets. Someone had to of carried me from the balcony to this bed and I did not have to guess who. I knew it was Peeta. I wish he would of slept next to me last night, but he had made it very clear that he was not going to lay a hand on me until he was clear. I kept wondering what was in store for us today. What has Haymitch and Peeta been doing all this time in the capitol? I would ask my questions at breakfast. I tiredly pulled my body off the bed and stretched my hands above my head, letting out a long deep yawn. I patted lazily across the bedroom floor and opened the door that led to the hallway. Everyone else still must of been asleep because I heard nothing but the soft ticking of a clock that hung on the wall in front of me. I entered the bathroom a couple seconds later and turned the faucet on immediately, then I striped down to nothing but my skin and sat on the toilet seat, waiting for the water to become Luke warm. I hated getting into a scolding hot tub and having the hot water almost burn my skin. My favorite type of baths were the Luke warm ones with me leaning my bare back against Peeta's chest, having him kiss my bare skin and whisper into my ear. I could not get over the fact that he had broke up with me last night for my 'own safety' I could care less about my safety. What I cared about was him and him only. I took the time to unbraid my messy hair, I must of tossed and turn in my sleep last night because my hair was a complete and total mess in the braid. Speaking of last night it was odd that I did not have any nightmares. Hass's sleeping pills must of worked wonders which surprised me because Dr. A had prescribed me with them when I first came back to district 12. They did not do a single thing.

I stood there looking in the mirror, trying to pull out the rats nest that was my hair. The tub was almost full, as soon as I was about to dip my body into the comforting tub; the door opened. I didn't bother covering myself up because as soon as my gray eyes met blue ones my heart swelled. Peeta stood in the doorway, his face was beat red. There were dark circles under his eyes and his hair was just as bad as mine.

"Sorry" He said turning his back towards me.

I snickered without much humor. "Nothing you haven't already seen."

I pulled a towel off the rack in front of me and wrapped in securely around my body. I did not want him to feel uncomfortable and why should he feel uncomfortable around me when I have no clothes on. We've had sex, we've bathe naked with each other, I have seen him and he's seen me.

"Do you need to go to the rest room?" I ask him.

"Yes, but I cant wait" He says sweetly.

I let the towel drop from my body and quickly soaked myself in the warm relaxing water. I had added a lot of bubbles, so now I was completely hidden. I pulled the shower curtain so it covered the inside of the tub from Peeta's view. He was being stubborn, instead of using the bathroom he exited it, gently shutting the door behind him. As soon as I heard the door click behind him I started crying softly. We really weren't together anymore. He really broke up with me last night. My tears mixed in with the soapy water and all I wanted to do was hide from the cruel fact that Peeta was no longer my boyfriend. I looked down at my engagement ring and my heart nearly fell out of my chest. I was not taking it off, nobody could make me, tears started to stream down my face as I thought of the possibility of him asking for it back. I pushed that thought aside and focused on the nice cool water that engulfed my body. I needed to stop this constant crying I found myself doing. I had to remain strong. I was a survivor, I was a hunter, I was strong, so why was this on little thing causing me to become so out of character.

I showered, wrapped a towel around me, and headed back into the room to change into a pair of pants and a baggy shirt. I should just curl up in my room all day and think about all the things I have done wrong. I quickly decided against that I did not come all this way just too mope and whine. I was determine to help him, I didn't want him to suffer anymore and I didn't want us to be apart like this anymore. The only way he was going to touch me again was if he rid himself of the venom. I had to remain strong for him. He was my soul mate, my everything and I was not going to give into this break-up so easily.

Peeta was sitting at the end of the table with a cup of coffee in his left hand and a capitol newspaper in the other. He did not look at me when I entered the room, but he knew I was there; his body tensed as soon as I entered the room. I rummaged through the fridge, looking for something I could sink my teeth in, but nothing looked good and I didn't trust hotel room food from a fridge. I settled for a cup of coffee and made my way out of the kitchen to sit on the leather couch. After a couple of minutes just staring out in space I heard a gentle knock on the room door, setting my coffee on the stand next to me. I got up and made my way across the room to answer it. I flung the door opened and was greeted with a wide smile that came from Hass. He was carrying a large brown paper bag in one hand and a couple small plastic ones in the other.

"Morning kitten" He greeted.

"Morning" I greeted back and stepped to the side to allow him to enter the large room.

"Did you get a good night sleep" He asked me.

"Actually yeah, the sleeping pills surprisingly worked" I told him.

"Good"

"Uh Whats all this?" I asked pointing to his bags.

"Oh food, I umm went out this morning to buy food and got a little carried away. Would you like some?"

"Sure there is nothing to eat here anyway" I shut the door once he was completely in the room and followed him into the kitchen. I stole a quick glance in Peeta's direction. He was staring at Hass with such a hateful expression, watching his every movement. His eyes met mine and he quickly looked away, frowned and continued to read the newspaper.

"Good morning Peeta" Hass greeted with his usual cheerful smile.

Peeta nodded in his direction, not saying one word to him, which really irritated the crap out of me. I told him last night that Hass and I were just friends and he told me that he was not jealous of him, not one little bit, but I am finding that hard to believe. The looks Peeta would get in his eyes told me if he was happy, sad, angry, frustrated or jealous and right now he was extremely jealous. I could read him so easily sometimes.

"You like Oreos kitten?" Hass asked grabbing a bag of the black cookies from the plastic bag.

"Never had one" I replied honestly.

He starts to laugh "Are you serious?"

I nod.

"Well your just going to have to try one" He pulls open the plastic and takes one of the small black cookies, stuffed with cream, He hands it to me and I take my first bite of the cookie. I'm immediately lost in the chocolaty goodness. It is amazing, more amazing than lamb stew. My eyes involuntary close and I moan into the next bite. I devoured the cookie and three large bites and snatched the bag away from Hass playfully.

"Want one Peeta?" He offers.

"No thank you" Peeta declines softly.

The morning was somewhat awkward between Peeta, Hass and I. We all filled our plates with the food Hass bought and ate in silence. Multiple times I caught Peeta glaring at him and that only made me angry. He knows damn well I love him and only him, so why take the time in glaring hatefully at my friend. Hass didn't seem to mind though; he just gorged himself with his Oreo cookies and store bought pop tarts. Haymitch and Effie entered the room a couple minutes later. Effie had a look of excitement on her face and Haymitch looked pretty annoyed. She skipped across the floor, the clicking sound that her high heels made filled my ears.

"This is so exciting" She says taking the last empty chair at the table. I took a moment to examine her attire. She wore a large blonde wig today with a black bow on the top of her head. Her vest and skirt were a matching blue color and she wore big high heeled boots. I was so fascinated with Effie's attire at times, She always manages to surprise me. Effie placed her hands on my shoulders and squealed in excitement. Haymitch rolled his eyes, Hass looked confused and Peeta stared at me with a concern look on his face.

"What's going on Effie?" I question her.

"Oh dear it is wonderful, The whole city is talking about it" Effie chirped.

"Talking about what?" I asked confused.

"Well its no secret Peeta is here to find a cure for his problems, the people are happy to have him, but now that your here helping him makes things even better..." Effie was about to say something else but Peeta calmly cuts her off.

"Better that she is here? Its not better Effie; its worst that she is here" Peeta says. His words stung me hard and I had to control myself from crying. I had to be strong and brave no matter what he said or did to me. I was Katniss Everdeen; I was the mockingjay. The strong, fearless mockingjay that could survive anything and I had to keep telling myself Peeta said these things to me and about me because he loved me and did not want to hurt me.

"I still don't get it Effie" I said to her.

She smiles. "Lets start from the beginning. President Paylor summoned Haymitch and myself to her mansion this morning. She heard rumors and whispers from the public that the mockingjay had arrived last night on train and that she was staying with her lover in a nearby hotel. She asked us if this was true" Effie said with nothing but excitement.

I sighed deeply and placed a hand against my forehead. "Please tell me you did not tell her or anyone I was here"

"Of course I did silly and she has invited you to attend a welcome back party set to take place this evening at six sharp. The capitol people are so excited to have the star-crossed lovers back" The problem was Peeta and I were hardly star-crossed lovers anymore.I sighed in frustration and without any warning slammed my fists against the table top, causing the silverware to clatter against one another. Both Hass and Peeta both jumped at my anger and Effie just gave me a scolding look. I pushed the chair out from underneath me and rose, slamming my fist against the table again.

"I don't want them to know anything. I didn't want them to know I was here." I shout.

"Darling you can't just waltz into the capitol and expect to be left alone. Your our mockingjay after all"

"I'm nobody's damn mockingjay anymore" I shout and I can no longer hold back the tears, a couple fell out of my gray eyes.

"Honey your always going to be Panem's mockingjay." Effie tells me.

"I just want to help Peeta thats all. No parties, no cameras, no star-crossed lovers, no fake dresses or make-up. NOTHING"

The whole room was silent for a couple seconds before Effie started speaking again. "Please come, it will give the people something to focus on other than the fact that Peacekeepers are misbehaving"

My heart sank to the ground at the mere mentioning of Peacekeepers; they were supposed to be long gone, replaced but what our ancestors used to call police officers. I wasn't going no matter what, nobody was going to convince me to go to the presidents mansion. I had to stay focus on trying to find a cure to that tracker jacker venom. I had to stay focus on helping Peeta with his problems.

"And what do Peacekeepers have to do with anything? We've been here for almost a month and I haven't seen any of them. What's going on?" Peeta asked butting into the conversation.

"Nothing you too need to be concerned about" Haymitch said entering the kitchen with a bottle of booze. I guess all this time in the capitol is causing him to become a drunk again. I didn't want that for him, so as soon as Peeta and I make it back to 12 I'm going to have a talk with Haymitch's girlfriend; maybe she could straighten his ass out.

"Please think about going sweetheart" Haymitch says, "It would be good for you and Peeta to talk to a few residents you know"

"We can't be the star-crossed lovers anymore, even if I did want to go" I whisper quietly, fighting back tears.

"Why not?" Effie pouts

I was silent.

"Why not?" Effie asked again not letting the subject drop. When she got no reply again. She got up from the chair and placed her hand on her hip, gently cocking it to the side. "Katniss Everdeen, Why not?"

That it I had it. I pounded my fists against the table again and shouted at her. "BECAUSE WE ARE NOT TOGETHER ANYMORE!" I cry out and bolt for my bedroom door. Nobody tried to stop me, I tossed the door open and slammed it shut again, throwing my body on the bed and burying my head in the soft pillow. I let all the tears flow, I cried until there was no tears left. My head pounded hard after I was done sobbing. Effie came into my room after I was done crying and apologized to me. She told me she was really sorry that Peeta and I broke up and that if I needed anyone to talk to she was right here.

"Please think about coming to the party, The nation wants to see its hero." Effie mumbles.

"I'm not a hero" I whisper. I thought hard and long about going to the party and after much conflict with myself I decided to give in. I would go, have them dress me up once again, play my part, smile, wave to the crowd and then have a one on one private meeting with the president concerning the peacekeeper issue and the tracker jacker venom, that is if she knew anything about that.

"Fine I'll go, but I want to talk to Paylor"

"Done I'll get your stylists" She chirps.

I raised my eyebrows in confusion. "My stylists are in 12"

"Oh no dear they were so bored without you there, they came home and they are so excited to be working on you" I love how Effie just assumes I would say yes to a welcome party like this. I had no choice I had to talk with Paylor, talk to her about Peeta's hijacking problems and talk to her about the peacekeeper issue. I wanted to know what this was all about. I was going to get to the bottom of it. I hated the fact that the whole entire city knew I was here, hated the fact that in a few hours I will be dolled up and cameras will be shoved into my face.

"Alright but I am not staying for the whole thing, you can doll me up, take a couple pictures but as soon as I talk with Paylor I'm out of there" I tell her.

"Fine then dear, lets get you looking halfway decent. One more thing Dear" She took a deep breath, trying to decide if she should ask me the next couple of questions, "You realize you cant waltz in there alone. A man has to escort you, capitol tradition"

My heart thumped in my chest and I remained silent.

"Maybe I could convince Peeta to..." I cut her off.

"He can't and I can't. He broke up with me and being close to him like that I just...can't do it" I bit my lip hard, not wanting the tears to start flowing.

"Darling its a temporary thing, I guarantee you" Effie leaned forward on the bed and pecked my head softly. She got up from the bed and slapped her hands together, "Lets get you bathed, I'll call your stylists"

I took a bath for the second time today and wrapped a silk robe around my body, sitting on the edge of my bed I waited for Effie to return with my prep team. It didn't take long for my door to open and someone to walk in. I expected it to be my prep team, but it wasn't. My heart dropped as my gray seam eyes met ocean blue. I turned my head to the side tearing my gaze away from him. He entered the room and shut the door behind him, locking it in the process.

"You don't have to go in front of the cameras" He says suddenly.

"I know I don't have to"

"Then why are you" Peeta asks, he knows I cant handle being in front of the cameras without him.

"It's doesn't really matter" I say.

He tightened his fist and clutched his jaw, I could tell he was struggling with this conversation. I loved it when I caused him to become tongue-tied. We were silent for a long seconds, staring into each others eyes, trying to find the right words to say to each other.

"Do you love me" I ask after five agonizing minutes of silence.

"Katniss please I..." I cut him off.

"Do you love me Peeta!" I ask raising my voice.

"You know I do"

"It's killing me inside, us not being together; it feels like I'm dying. Is it for good?"

"Huh?"

"Are we done for good?"

"Katniss, I never want to hurt you again"

I risk it and approached him, laying both my hands softly against his cheeks. "You won't hurt me again"

"You got to understand why I'm doing this" He mumbles.

"I do understand, but you have to understand how I'm feeling too. I love you so much that its actually hurting me; the thought of not being with you I can't handle it. You removing yourself from my life is far worse than anything your hijacking has ever done. It feels like this hole has been ripped into my heart, a hole you can only fill." I move closer to him until our chests are touching. I gaze into his deep blue eyes and all I want to do is melt.

"I love you and you know its not easy for me to say those words, but I truly, deeply love you"

"I don't want to hurt you like this, but I feel so horrible for what I have done." He gently pulls his face out of my soft grip and turns his back towards me. "I mean for god sakes Katniss I killed my own unborn baby!" He suddenly bursts out in anger. "It's something they would of done, I'm just like them I'm just like HIM! killing innocent children, never giving them a shot at life. I hate what I am, I just want to be normal again, I want to be the man I was before the games."

"You are that man Peeta" I approached him again and took his face between my hands again, when his eyes met mine I could see tears were softly flowing in his eyes. "Your a good person, your nothing like Snow; he is the monster that did this to you. Your a damn good man not a monster and I love you so much"

Peeta and I stared into each others eyes for a good while. Neither of us were saying or doing anything. A loud rap on the door caused you to let go of each other. I moved past Peeta, unlocked the door and meet Effie's concerned gaze.

"Am I interrupting?" Effie asks.

"Yes" I said

"Not at all" Peeta says and moves past me and out the door.

"Your prep team is here to work on you" Effie smiles widely.

She flung the door opened and allowed them to enter; almost immediately Octavia placed a light kiss on my forehead while Flavius and Venia forced me into a bear hug. Peeta disappeared from my sight as soon as my prep team entered my hotel bedroom. I immediately felt completely empty by his absence.

"We missed you so much Katniss" Flavius smiled.

"Yeah its good to be home District 12 is a stink hole" Octavia mumbled to herself, but I was still able to hear her and shot her a vicious glare. Venia entered the room carrying several cases of what looked like nail products, Flavius had a case of hair products and Octavia held a long silky blue dress for me to get into. It was going to be a long and stressful afternoon. The things they had to do in order to make me beautiful. I could feel it now the pulls, the pushes, the pokes and the ripping of my leg hair. I don't have much leg hair, but that doesn't mean it wont hurt coming off. I prayed they would skip that part and just do my hair nails and make-up.

It took 4 long and horrible hours to bathe me, place blue shades of make-up on me and get me into that long beautiful dress. I loved the dress it was gorgeous,There were no straps, my back was completely exposed and so was parts of my chest. The high heels they gave me were impossible for me to walk in so the had to take it down a heel size in order for me to walk. They painted my nails and styled my hair in a simple braided bun. When I was finally done I entered the large room and gazed around. Haymitch and Effie were dressed in their very best, Peeta looked absolutely handsome in his dark black tuxedo. When his eyes met mine it looked like he stopped breathing. Effie and Haymitch turned their heads in my direction and smiled (well only Effie smiled).

"You look stunning dear" Effie said, approaching me and kissing me lightly on the forehead.

Peeta approached me slowly and ever so gently grabbed my hand into his, placing a delicate kiss on the top of my hand. This was a start at least he was beginning to touch me again. Maybe I just had to be patient with him; like he has been patient with me. I started into his eyes for a couple minutes wanting so badly to press my lips against his and drive him into a kiss. I wanted to throw Effie and Haymitch out of the hotel room and have my way with Peeta on the floor, the table, the bathroom, the bed, just about anywhere I could get. Effie quickly ushers us out of the building and into a fancy rental car. Peeta and I sat in the back by ourselves and Effie and Haymitch in the front. He is sitting as far away from me as possible, gazing out into the night sky. The sky was dark and every once in awhile a flicker of light would go off in the distance. A storm was coming and there was no stopping it. The awkward silence that filled the air caused butterflies to form in my stomach. Finally after long minutes of agonizing silence Peeta finally decided to tear his eyes away from the sky and spoke. "You don't have to do this" He mutters.

"I know I don't have to, but if she knows a way to help you then..." He cuts me off.

"She doesn't know anything" Peeta said.

"You don't know that" I say with a little irritation in my voice.

"Haymitch and I already went to her and she pointed us in the direction of an abandon building that had records of all the people the capitol tortured, all the mutts they created and so much more, but there was not one thing on how to cure hijacked memories. I'm stuck like this"

"Even if you are stuck with it, you wont go through this alone. I'll be there everyday for you. I'll be there to bring you back"

He stared at me with a look of slight anger. "So you would risk your life for me again!"

"Yes" I says without having to think about it.

"I wont let you, If this doesn't work I'll force you on that train"

"Do you love me at all?" I asked with a horrifying look on my face.

"Katniss! You know I do! How many damn times must I repeat myself" He hisses at me.

"Then stop pushing me away!" I hiss back.

We both remained silent the rest of the way, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of Haymitch and Effie talking and the roaring of the engine as it zoomed down the streets of the capitol. My heart pounded hard the closer I got to the presidents manson. There had to be a simple reason as to why Paylor went through so much trouble in tracking me down. I knew it wasn't just to welcome me back to the capitol. I was determined to find her as soon as I got there. The car came to an abrupt stop and when it did two escorts opened the door and the one offered me his large hand. As soon as Peeta and I were out of the car, camera started to surround us, especially me. They screamed questions at me like: Where you been all this time mockingjay or how's life in district 12. One of them even asked if Peeta and I had any plans in getting pregnant any time soon. I just smiled and waved at the camera, ignoring their questions and comments. I tried pushing my way past the camera man, but he merely stuck the camera in my face more and continued asking me questions I didn't want to answer. I tried again to move past him, but he was so much taller than me and stood in my way. I felt like taking his camera and bashing it off the ground, but before I could do just that Peeta's large hand grabbed mine and he pushed his way through the crowd with me tightly against his side. The camera man protested and began following us, Peeta dragged me as quickly as he could and entered Paylor's mansion. The escorts closed the door and as soon as they did Peeta dropped my hand and I felt abandon as he walked away.

"This way Miss Everdeen" He smiled. He was medium height, very thin, brown hair and his eyes; I have seen his eyes somewhere, they were familiar but I could not remember where I have seen them. "My name is Wadera by the way Miss and Its a pleasure to meet the mockingjay"

"It's nice to meet you too Wadera."

He led me down the large hallways and into a huge ballroom packed with so many people. They were all dressed in their very best and as soon as they saw me they smiled, waved, greeted me, asked to have a drink with me. Wadera led me to the center to the ballroom and there stood none other than Paylor herself. She has not changed in the last couple of years, except of course her hair is more gray than I remember. She gave me a warm smile and grabbed me into a bone-crushing hug.

"Katniss, how are you?" She smiled.

"Good" I lied. I was far from good, How can I be good when I was in a place like this, a place that reminded me of death and despair. How can I be good when all Peeta does is push me away; So much has happened to me there is no way in hell I can say I'm good. This was going to be a long and dreadful night. Paylor tapped her spoon against her fancy glass and immediately the room fell silent and I could feel all eyes were on me.

"Attention Everyone, Please give a warm welcome back to Miss Katniss Everdeen and Mister Peeta Mellark. The heroes of Panem have return to us"

The was a roar of Applause and I scanned the room hoping to catch Peeta's gaze somewhere in the crowd. No sign of him. The applause soon faded and music began to fill the air, the tune was soft and sweet. I turned to Paylor and examined her closely.

"Can I speak with you in private?" I asked her.

"Once your welcome party is through you may" She smiles and walks away from me, her tight fitting green dress gently following behind her. I scanned the room hoping to find anyone that looked familiar; nobody caught my eye. There were so many chairs and tables set up in the room, I had many choices in what chair to sit in. I picked a chair in the corner and sat down on the hard surface. I watched people talk and drink. Many of them came up to me and asked me for a dance and a drink.I kindly declined every invitation and focused on scanning the crowd for Peeta. Finally I spotted him near the punch bowl talking to a women with blonde hair and blue eyes. She was dressed in a long gray dress, her hair was down to her shoulders and was very curly. She had her hand on Peeta's shoulder and he had his on her small back. She had him smiling and blushing. I was about to get up from my chair and go dump that whole bowl of bunch on her dress, but then decided against it as a man with chestnut locks took the seat across from me and folded his hands.

"Whats a pretty girl like you doing in the corner?" He asked.

I immediately recognized him as the escort from earlier. Wadera; he was Paylor's assistant or something like that. He was dressed in a black tuxedo, his hair was slick and he had a small patch of make-up to cover a scar from his left cheek.

"I'm not much of a party girl" I say quietly.

"I can see that Miss. Everdeen. Do you really want to be anti-social to people who look up to you" He says.

"I'm not the mockingjay another that was five years ago." I snap.

Wadera merely laughs. "You will always be the mockingjay" His smile fades and his face becomes serious, he stares hard at me and I don't like the look he is giving me. It actually scares the life out of me, But I push my paranoia away and smile at him.

"Would you like to dance?" I asked kindly.

"Sure Mockingjay" He replies and stands up from his chair; he offers me his hand which I gladly take. We walk to the dance floor. My eyes went to the spot by the punch bowl. Peeta was no longer there. The music started playing and it was a deep serious beat at first. I was about to place my hands around his neck but he stopped me and said "This is actually a Formations dance."

"A What?" I questions, but before He could answer the music got louder and a lady started singing in a deep and serious tone.

Abraham took Issac's hand and led him to the lonesome hill.

While his daughter hid and watched, she dare not breathe.

She was so still.

I looked around us as multiple people were dancing with one another and then twirled their partner into the arms of another person. Wadera did the same to me and I twirled into an older gentlemens arms. He smiled, gave me a small nod and continued dancing. The women started singing again.

Just as an angel cried for the slaughter, Abraham s daughter raised her voice.

Then the angel asked her what her name was, she said, I have none"

The older man twirled me out of his arms and back into Wadera, his grip was a littler tighter this time, his face was serious as his eyes bored into mine. The music was so loud that I could barely hear myself think. I think Wadera was squeezing me so hard on the arms that it was leaving red marks, But I didn't let that bother me. I continued the dances moves along with everyone else. The women's voice echoed through my head.

Then he asked, How can this be?

My father never gave me one. And when he saw her, raised for the slaughter, Abraham s daughter raised her bow.

How darest you child defy your father? You better let young Isaac go.

As soon as the women was done singing, Wadera smiled at me and twirled me into another mans arms. He wasn't supposed to, nobody else did it. I stared into ocean blue eyes and finally realized I was in Peetas' arms. I looked back at Wadera- who was look over our shoulders, he gave the blonde haired woman a small nod, she nodded back and suddenly the pair pulled a gun on the both of us and fired.

To be continued...