A/N: thank you to Rocket Summer, I mean abercrombie kids for the new review. I have to say I'm thankful that some black guy got turned into a martyr and now we have his birthday off here in America. That and I have the summary for the sequel already planned out. First reviewer gets it!
Chapter 21
I'm panting heavily, lying on top of Peeta. I was sure we were about to do it, but instead we just sat on the bed making out for minutes easily, maybe even an hour. Haymitch hasn't bothered us since that small conversation when he got onto the train. I couldn't believe what had happened since I was last on one of these; I had fallen in love with Peeta Mellark, my friendship with Gale Hawthorn was on thin ice, Peeta and myself won the Hunger Games, and now my life will be paid for by the 'generosity' of the Capitol.
But then my thoughts go to the Quarter Quell. I know it's only in one year, a long period of time, but it just seems to close. Maybe that was one of the things they were thinking of when they started the Hunger Games all of those long years ago. The warm comfort of Peeta surrounds me as I think about a number of things.
"I can't believe we'll be home in only a what, half a day? I wonder how we'll be treated? We'll we be heroes to the young, or will we be seen as another part of the Capitol's control over the Districts?" I partially surprised he'd be thinking about those sort of things; I usually expect anti-Capitol ramblings of any sort from Gale. He would get on the bad side of some of the Peacekeepers every once and a while, but at least they haven't discovered the poaching.
"I don't know Peeta. I just hope that when I see Prim, she doesn't look at me like I'm some sort of vile monster; a killer of people." His comforting hands move across my body, eliciting small shivers of pleasure. This seems so unreal, this relationship with Peeta. The only thing I can say about it though is that it is real and will define who I am and what I will do in the future.
"I doubt she will. She loves you too much." I giggle softly, trying to not let Peeta hear it.
"I wonder what she'll think about us getting married." A deadening silence settles over us; I can't believe I just joked about marriage.
"I bet she'll be air-lifted to the Capitol to help President Snow plan it." I roll over on him so I can look at him better. His blonde hair is completely disheveled and his blue eyes reflect a murky desire I share.
"Maybe. President Snow will have to come to District 12 to get my mother's approval; I doubt she'd let me be married in front of all of Panem without her approval, even if it's you." I lips meet twice, almost trying to eat each other, before we go into another passionate frenzy. I'm sure that the day we're married people will have to remind us to be modest in front of the Capitol crowd they'll surely invite. Then a thought hits me as I part from Peeta.
"What will your stepmother think of me now? I know she despises me at the minimum. I mean, I know your father will be happy and your brothers will be giving us trouble for years to come, but she's the one in your family I worry most about." He just laughs.
"I'm not sure her opinion will matter in this. The only way she'll want us to marry is if I get you pregnant…" he gives me a smile any girl would melt from, but some of my fears threaten to come to the surface. Instead, I just punch him.
"That's not funny Peeta. Cinna didn't know she shouldn't joke about those sorts of things, but you have no plausible argument!" I rise from being on top of him, feigning rage at him. He gets off of the bed, pretending to be offended by my anger.
"You're just oversensitive, you know that?" I'm sure if anyone else saw us, they'd be convinced we were at each other's necks, ready to attack the other. On the inside, however, I'm trying not to fall apart into laughter. The fake anger on his face dissolves
"At least we'll get to see Cinna and Portia in half a year, maybe earlier." I glare at him for bringing them up; they weren't my favorite topic outside of the Capitol, that's for sure. Instead of answering with a witty comment, he just shrugs. "I like them; they're both great people. I'll admit that Cinna has a…bizarre sense of humor." I try to hold it in, but a laugh comes out of my mouth. He gives me a smug smile of victory.
And then I lunge at him, pressing him against the wall. "I don't really like being here." I suddenly find myself pressed in between him and the wall I had just pinned him against.
"How you do it, I don't know…" I murmur before I lose myself in another passionate kiss. Warmth radiates from him, increasing my desire for him. We break for a second and our eyes meet, each displaying pools of desire. My core starts to heat up and a sensation I had never felt before fills my body. The kisses deepen and his hands get more brazen; I gasp when they roam over my chest. Before we can go further, a Peacekeeper comes through the door, not even knocking.
"Dinner is ready," a smug look comes across his face, "Mr. and Mrs. Mellark." Due to my position, there was no way I could get to him and beat him senseless, so I just blushed madly. I could see Peeta was as red as me while the Peacekeeper continues to smile. "I suggest you two hurry. The President has a special announcement tonight." He walks out and our bodies untangle them selves. I'm sure if he had come in any later, the rumors that would've been spread…I couldn't bear to think about them.
After a hardy meal, we sit down in front of the TV that the train has. Haymitch is in the large, puffy chair near by. I know he has already heard about our…tryst. It seems like years before the screen is filled with color. And standing there is President Snow, as repulsive as ever.
"As you all know, this year the Hunger Games had two victors. Now, I've met with both of them and I can assure you that their relationship was not for the cameras." I want to delve into why he's saying these things, but I'm not in the mood to. "So, as a nice gift, I'm willing to throw them a wedding here in the Capitol before the 3rd Quarter Quell. I'll have their brilliant stylists begin on clothes immediately, but they don't have to go through with it. We're not going to force them into it." The smile that comes to his face scares me as the screen goes black. They didn't even have the anthem play.
"Well, that was strange." That's all Peeta says before he rises up from his spot besides me. "I think we should go to bed. I've noticed you've been sleepier than usual." I give him an appreciative smile as he swoops me up, like what would happen in those old fairy tales. The slow beating of his heart and the warmth of his arms start to put me to sleep, but I continue to struggle to stay awake. Soon he opens up the door to our room, locks it, and lays me down on the bed without having to move a hand away.
"Peeta, tell me how you're so amazing?" I feel like I'm in a dream state already.
"Because," we've both changed and he's below me as he starts to answer, "I'm in love with you, Katniss Everdeen." I smile, tears begging to be let go of.
"And I'm in love with you, Peeta Mellark." We get one kiss in before we both fall asleep. Little do I know, that Peacekeeper is watching, a smile on his face.
"Sleep well, Mockingjay."
It was early morning in District 12 as Gale walked towards the Meadow. He had told Madge he'd take her into the woods and show her the strawberry patch this morning. When he got to the designated meeting spot, she seemed…frightened to him.
"What is it?" He hoped it didn't involve the strange meeting with the Gamemaker the day before.
"You remember when you told me how to tell if the fence is on?" Gale nodded; he had done that for her own good, just in case.
"Well, it's on. Also, a train arrived just last night when everyone was asleep." His eyebrow rose; 'what can this mean?'
"So?" She glared at him.
"It was a new Head Peacemaker. His name is Romulus Thread and apparently he came here from District 8 on Capitol orders. President Snow's." His eyes widened. 'So, apparently rebellion is a true possibility.'
A/N: well, it's not as short as the previous chapter I wrote today, but I think it helps lead into the final chapters of this story along with the next story in this series. That reminds me, I'd like a suggestion for a series name for this…trilogy. Obviously, this is book one and they'll all be re-imaginings of the Hunger Games Trilogy, so I'd like ideas. There's someone out there who can come up with something good.