TWENTY-EIGHT

"Ready to go?" Peeta asks.

I shoulder my bag. "As ready as I'll ever be." I'm holding it together. I'm calm and cool. Peeta smiles warmly and then my smooth exit is ruined by an armful of Katniss Everdeen.

"27 days." I whisper into her ear.

"Happy and whole, remember? Make him pay for it."

We separate and there are no tears today. We are fierce and we are determined. Peeta jams his hands into his pockets. He rocks on his heels and looks between us. He can see it. I know he can.

"Ready?" I nod. He embraces Katniss. "We'll be back for you soon."

"27 days."

A car is waiting to take us to the train station. It's strange how much things have changed. I had never even been in a car before the games. Now you can call one to come and pick you up. The ride is quiet. Peeta stares out his window and I stare out mine.

"Annie is making your favorite for dinner."

I can't fight the flush of emotion that floods my body. I'm crying, but to his credit, Peeta doesn't bat an eye. He gives my hand a squeeze.

"I know. Annie's cooking upsets me too."

I sputter a strange mix of laugh and cry. Peeta Mellark is all right. "She tries so hard."

"She made us crunchy eggs. Haymitch wouldn't even eat them."

"Did she ever make you that stew?"

"Fish and stuff surprise?"

"Yes! Is that what you call it?" I rub at my eyes, "Finnick told her it was his favorite. She used to make it all the time for me. She'd always get this look on her face, all weepy and shit. Fucking Finnick, I'm sure he thinks it's funny.

"Even the kid knows. I can see it in his eyes. Sheer terror every time Annie goes near a frying pan."

"He's smart that one."

"He'll be walking soon."

"I can't believe it." He's eyeing me. "What?"

"You look good, Mason."

"You don't look so bad yourself, Mellark."

"You'll let me know if you need anything. Katniss will kick my ass if I don't take care of you."

"She is very scary. She threatened me too."

"Such a violent girl." He shakes his head. "But, seriously, you need anything you let me know. You aren't all alone in this."

"Thanks." And I mean it, so much more than I'll ever be able to say.

"No problem."

Peeta's all easy smiles and cheap laughs. We make it home in one piece. Annie is waiting on the stairs wrapped in a green sweater and a long skirt. She's beautiful basked in the dying light of the sun. She's been crying. Her eyes are rubbed raw. I don't know why. It could be Finnick, me, or just all the monsters in Annie's head. Our embrace is tight and unforgiving. The smell of home, it's all there, tangled in her hair. Over her shoulder, I see Haymitch lingering in the doorway. He gives a belated nod. Uncertainty doesn't suit him. His embrace is hard and smells of liquor and sweat and spice.

"You had me scared there kiddo." He whispers.

Dinner is equal parts burned and uncooked, but it doesn't matter. We're together and an empty chair sits beside Haymitch like a promise waiting to be filled.