"Cato."

He smiles and takes my hand, pulling me to my feet. "Hey, Kitten."

I feel the scowl on my face. "Don't call me that," I grumble, bunching up the insanely large dress in my hands so that I could jump over the couch. My feet hit the ground and I'm finally standing in front of him.

I'm standing in front of Cato.. this cannot be real.

My eyes travel upward so that I'm looking up at his face. He's laughing, rubbing his palm against the back of his neck.

I see Caesar slowly walking to the back of the stage, giving us our 'alone time'.

Cato leans down, placing his lips to my ear. "I told you I would keep my promise, Kitten," he whispers, wrapping his arms around me.

I thought he would never be able to hold me again, and here he is, holding me like a piece of glass.

My tears start falling again and I crush him to me, tightening my arms so much that I didn't think I could let him go.

The crowd started cheering, reminding me that we were still on the stage with millions of people watching and fawning over us.

"Rose, stop crying," I hear him say. He starts rubbing my back like Cinna did earlier.. I imagined it was Cato before, but this time it is real.

"I can't believe you're here," I cried with my face stuffed into his chest. Cato places his chin on the top of my head and his chest vibrates with laughter.

"I know, I know," he said. "But you need to stop crying. You know I hate it when you cry," he mumbled. I could tell he was embarrassed with having to be this open with me while we were on national television, but I just couldn't resist.. we had been apart for two days and.. He's just here.

Breathe, Prim. You need to breathe or you'll faint. I pull my face and arms away from him and fail to wipe the tears from my cheeks. Cato helps to wipe my tears away while smiling sweetly at me.

Dear heavens, his smile.. I didn't think I'd see him again.

"I'm sorry. I just don't know what to say," I tell him, laughing nervously.

Cato pulls me into another tight hug and I revel in his smell.. in his smile.. in him.

And to think that I cried for two full days over him when he was probably in the room next to me. Who knew about this? Haymitch, Effie, Cinna? And why didn't anyone tell me? I could have saved myself from all the misery that I put myself through. And why didn't Cato tell me about his plan so that I wouldn't be explaining to myself why my life was officially over?

Jeez, I cried so much..

I force myself away from Cato and proceed to punch him over and over in his chest.

"Why did you do that to me?!" I yell, punching him in the chest with all my strength. But, being Cato, he didn't even flinch. He just smiled. "Don't ever trick me like that again!"

Cato laughed and caught my wrists in his hands, pinning them down to my sides. "I'm sorry. But I just couldn't tell you," he says.

"Well do you at least have anything to say for yourself after causing me so much pain?" I answer angrily. I thought my life was officially over without him.

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.

"Only that I love you, and as you can tell, I would do anything to make sure you're happy."

I can't breathe..

Cato leans down and captures my lips in a toe-curling kiss. There is more cheering in the background as his tongue swipes across my bottom lip and I open my mouth to him, granting him access to me. The velvet of his tongue dances with my in a slow, sweet dance. My arms wrap around his neck and I don't care that people are watching me do this right now. I got Cato back and I hope that he never lets me go again. Silent tears fall down my face. This is so overwhelming.

Is it possible to fall in love with someone when you've only known him for two weeks? I don't really know what love is, but I can't help but feel that I'm in love with Cato. We've been through more than a normal couple would go through.. even though we haven't officially classified this relationship. It's weird having the feeling that life would not be worth living without another person by your side, and that's what I experienced from the moment I was lifted from the arena.

My stomach.. it felt tight but floaty at the same time. My cheeks hurt so much from smiling whenever he's around, even though we do argue more than a normal couple. It's light, fire, air.. acceptance. But it's also pain, from him and from me, that I just cannot get enough of. The pain should tell me to stay away.. Cato's severely corrupted, too much for me to understand, but I want to stay. We can sit in silence together and be completely comfortable. I never want to go to sleep because then I may be away for him for too long. I become more of me with Cato, and I know that normally, I'm nothing, but Cato decided to stay with me, and I with him, through whatever is wrong, and it's all okay. And suddenly, I don't feel like I'm alone anymore.

"Well this surely has been a night to remember," I hear Caesar say.

I push my face back into Cato's chest so that he doesn't see that I started crying again.

"Thank you Panem for tuning in. Let's give another hand for our victor! From District 12, Primrose Everdeen!"

I pull myself away from Cato for two seconds to give a small curtsie, just like Effie taught me. She would be so proud.

I reattached myself to Cato's side, afraid that he would let go, and held onto him as he pratically carried me off the huge stage. Once the cameras were gone, I was relieved. I wanted to sleep, and I mean really sleep, not cry myself to sleep, stay asleep for an hour, and wake up in tears from another nightmare about Cato.

It was silent as we walked away from the stage, and away from all the people calling for us. We ignored everyone, even Cinna, and just walked in the direction toward my room. It was late, late enough that the blackish-blue of the sky peeked through the windows we walked past.

Cato and I stopped in front of my door and he pushed it open, allowing me to step inside. He didn't walk in with me though, just stood in front of me.

"I'm going to take a shower," he said, tracing his fingers down my bare arms. I still had this frilly pink dress on, and I wanted nothing more than to get out of it. It wasn't me, and I wasn't comfortable in it.

I whimpered and tried to pull Cato into the room with me, but he shook his head. "Don't leave me again," I plead, grasping his hand in mine.

Cato chuckles and lets my hand go. "I won't leave. I'll be back in ten minutes." Cato stepped away from the door and turned, walking to the room directly next to mine and opening the door. He turned around and smirked at me - that deadly smirk - and walked inside.

How on earth did he live right next to me for two days, and I didn't see him once? It kind of makes sense.. I didn't leave this room once for both days, but I'm still so surprised at how close we were. What if he heard my wails at night, or the screams in my sleep? That would be embarrassing..

I quickly strip off the pink dress and rush to the bathroom for a shower and to wash all the glitter off my face. It felt good to shower, to feel the scorching water hit my skin and loosen my two day old tense muscles. I scrubbed away the thoughts of misery that I went through and smiled as I let the rose scent of the shower encase me. Cato calls me Rose..

After taking my extremely comforting shower, I scurry back into the room to throw on some pyjamas. The white t-shirt and thick sweatpants made me warm, and I pulled my wet hair up into a ponytail. I don't know why I did it when Cato is probably going to just take it out when he gets here. Oh well.. I love it when he runs his fingers through my hair.

I shut off all the lights in the room and stuffed myself under the many blankets on my bed. I laid with my eyes staring upward, waiting for Cato to slip into bed with me.

I sleep so peacefully with him.. I wonder if it's the same for him..?

I hear my door open and smile when the other side of the bed dips beside me. Strong arms wrap around my back and I'm being pulled into his chest.

My ponytail is being pulled and then I feel his fingers run through my hair. I hear him sniffing in as he buries his nose into my hair.

"You smell so good."

"Thank you," I smile.

Cato sighs and sniffs in even more. "I haven't slept for two days," Cato mumbles into my hair.

My eyebrows furrow. "Why not?"

"Because without you, the nightmares come back."

I pull back and frown up at his face. "You have nightmares?" He never told me that he gets nightmares.. What are they about?

"Every night," he nods, frowning right back at me.

"About what?"

"Nothing," he answers too quickly. I let the topic go. I knew now wasn't the right time to talk about a touchy subject.

"Okay," I sigh. "Well I haven't slept well for two days either," I admitted, taking him in, especially his woodsy scent. He smelled wondrous, like my Cato.

"I know. I heard you."

So he has heard me..

"Why didn't you tell me about this? I was so heartbroken," I ask with a pout.

Cato shrugs. "I couldn't tell you or else it wouldn't seem real."

I nod, understanding completely. It had to be all real for President Snow I guess.

"So, what did you have to do to make this happen?" I ask. He hadn't told me about his plan, or who he was working with in order to make this happen. I just wanted to squeese the life out of whoever did help him though.. Cato wouldn't be here without this person.

"I can't tell you that either," he answers, shaking his head.

"Why not?"

"Because you won't like it, and I don't think you'd be comfotable with it, either." That smirk..

I frown and pout. "Will you ever be able to tell me?"

"I don't know. But, what I do know is that I want to go to sleep because I haven't been able to for some time, and listening to you scream at night isn't something I like to listen to."

I nod and wrap my arms around him, letting him bury his face into my hair.

"I missed you so much Cato," I almost cried.

He nods, staring down at me with sad eyes. "I know, and I'm sorry for making you go through all of that. I had no other choice though. It was hell for me listening to you all day and night. Trust me, I went through the same thing you did."

"What are we going to do now?"

Cato shook his head and placed me down on the bed. "Nothing. Right now, we're going to get some much needed sleep."

I pout, but nod in agreement. "Okay."

"I love you," he sighs, tightening his arms around me.

I nod again and close my eyes. I didn't want to say those three words to him because for one, I was way too scared. I was fine saying it to everyone else but him. It was insane, but saying it to him was much more intense.

Cato was already alseep by the time my eyes closed, and when I woke up only a couple hours later, he was still sound alseep.

I was hungry, and I do mean really hungry. My cheeks had sunk in drastically in the past two days and I was thinner. I hadn't eaten, and now that I knew Cato was back, I could finally eat and drink something to satisfy me.

I slowly pushed myself out of Cato's arms and he turned over in his sleep, facing away from me. I pulled the blankets higher over him and walked out of the room quietly toward the dining area.

I looked around, trying to find something to eat, but everything was tucked away somewhere, with the exception of a few cookies. I didn't want cookies though. I wanted a real meal.

I was just about to devour the cookies when a chef came out of the kitchen, whistling a tune. He had chocolate brown hair, dark chocolate skin, and the most kind golden brown eyes that I've ever seen. They were a little lighter than Rue's, but still held the humbleness.

"Oh, I'm sorry miss. I didn't know you were in here," he stated, placing a hand over his heart.

"It's fine. I was just looking for something to eat," I sighed desperately. I was hoping he would make me something quickly so I could go back to sleep.

"Why don't I cook you up a nice chicken soup, with some bread and a nice cup of orange juice? I know it's you favourite," the chef asked.

He smiled as my eyes lit up with happiness and excitement. "Would you, please?"

Chef nodded once and rushed back into the kitchen, cooking me up a nice hearty soup and preparing a fresh batch of bread, even though I'd only have a piece. I sat at the huge dining table alone, revelling in the smell of the soup escaping the kitchen and teasing my nose, and I almost fell out of my seat when he brought me a huge pot of soup, a loaf of bread, and a pitcher of orange juice.. my favourite.

"Thank you so much," I sighed, staring with big eyes at the meal. There was no way I would be able to finish it all on my own, and Cato was asleep, so I couldn't force him to eat it with me.

"You're most welcome," Chef answered, beginning to walk back into the kitchen.

"Hey chef?" I called back toward him. He turned and looked at me questioningly. "Would you mind eating all this food with me? I don't think I'll be able to finish it."

The chef smiled warmly and sat across from me, setting out our plates. "I was hoping you would ask," he joked, chuckling lightly.

So, I spent a portion of my night eating soup with the sweet chef, who talked to me all about his family that lived in the outskirts of the Capitol, and I talked to him about my family back at home, but also my new family here. I was so grateful for all the people I met here, even Effie. They all became my new family.

Once I was done eating with him, I bid the chef goodnight and walked back to my room completely satisfied. The meal was perfect, especially for a starving girl.

As I approached my door, I heard Cato screaming. The most painful scream I've ever heard.

I pushed the door open quickly and watched as he writhed in his sleep, yelling for someone to stop doing something.

He was having a nightmare.

I ran to his side and wiped the accumulated sweat off of his face, shaking his shoulders and begging him to wake up. I pulled the blankets off, letting his body free and tried to pin his flailing arms down as I shook him awake.

Once I was finally able to wake him out of his misery, he sat up and stared at me with wide and fearful eyes.

"You left," he breathed. "You must have left. I never have nightmares when you're here," he rushed out of his mouth in ragged breaths. He looked so panicked, like I was about to fall out and die at any moment.

"I'm sorry. I went to get something to eat," I apologised. Cato pulled me down into his arms and squeesed me tight.

I wiped the moisture from his face with my shirt and watched his face intently.

"The nightmare.. it wasn't the same one anymore," he croaked, pulling my legs to wrap around him. "I killed you this time.. I- I.. I killed-"

"Shh, Cato, it's okay. I'm here now," I shush him.

Cato closes his mouth, nods and lays down with me practically on top of him.

"I won't leave again. I promise," I mumble, upset with myself for leaving when I knew that he had those nightmares when I wasn't there. I could have just had some food sent to the room instead. I nearly had a heart attack hearing him screaming through the door.

Cato keeps my body on top of his, making sure that I couldn't escape his arms anymore. I laid down on his chest and listened to his heart beat slowly back down so that he was sound alseep for the second time.

"I love you, too."

What are we going to do now?

Wassup? This is late, super duper gooper late! But ya know, I'm busy, and I'm running late on my other stories too.

I really hope you like it. I'm so happy Cato is back and they're out of the Games.

Please leave your comments, feedback, death threats.. I'm kidding.

Vote, comment, share, follow and thank you so much for reading!

Cheers. Laters, baby.

Myesha xx