Here's the next chapter! It's a shorter one, but I hope you like it! Enjoy! I do not own THG so any direct quotes will be in italics.

Ch. 36

"He let you go because he didn't want to owe you anything?" I ask, letting her words replay in my head. Yep, that's definitely what she said.

"Yes. I don't expect you to understand it. You've always had enough. But if you lived in the Seam, I wouldn't have to explain." So, I can't understand. I would never understand it. I'm privileged; I don't know what it feels like to be a good person. You have to live in the Seam to get it.

"And don't try. Obviously, I'm too dim to get it." I say. Katniss begins to pick at me, maybe it's the lack of food, but suddenly I'm annoyed.

"It's like the bread. How I never seem to get over owing you for that." She tries to explain, but her words are confusing. The bread? I'm thrown back to that rainy night, but that's not what she means is it?

"The bread? What? From when we were kids?" Katniss has already repaid me, for just acknowledging me, "I think we can let that go. I mean, you just brought me back from the dead."

"But you didn't know me. We had never even spoken. Besides, it's the first gift that's always the hardest to pay back. I wouldn't even have been here to do it if you hadn't helped me then." I remember how only a couple weeks later had she came in with a squirrel; she was more filled out. Still tiny and thin, but she looked healthier. I didn't know it was the difference between her life and death, "Why did you, anyway?"

Why did I? Because I was completely in love with you. You looked sad and lost and hungry. I had to help you. Those are the words that I want to spill out of my mouth, but instead come, "Why? You know why?" She has to know. The words I had told Caesar Flickerman, were black and white. I was and still am in love with her. She moves her head slowly back and forth telling me she doesn't know. It's all a game isn't it? "Haymitch told me you would take a lot of convincing." I remember back in the Capitol. When I was supposed to be training about how to talk on my interview, Haymitch and I had just talked. He had told me that she wouldn't believe it, but I didn't really listen to those words. I had to believe that they weren't true.

"Haymitch?" She spits out quick, "What's he got to do with it?" I feel this going into territory that the Capitol people wouldn't like.

"Nothing. So, Cato and Thresh huh?" I change the subject quickly. "I guess it's too much to hope that they'll simultaneously destroy each other?" Katniss' face contorts in pain and for a second I think her wound has reopened.

"I think we would like Thresh." It's how I felt about Kelly; I wasn't really excited for her death. "I think he'd be our friend back in District Twelve." From this I get that Katniss isn't ready for his death. I also noticed how she said our friend. Katniss and I didn't exactly hang with the same group of people. This means, we have something now. A relationship.

"Then let's hope Cato kills him, so we don't have to." I say my voice full of sorrow, for Katniss. She doesn't say anything to that. Instead she lets her eyes go distant, her thoughts go elsewhere. After a few minutes of just watching her I notice the tears coming back in. "What is it? Are you in a lot of pain?" I remember how only a couple days ago tears threatened to spill from the pain all over my body. Now it was Katniss in that position.

I expect her to just nod instead she answers, "I want to go home, Peeta." Her face contorts to keep the tears in her eyes. She's not ready to let them fall again.

"You will." I'm sure. So sure. We have a chance, I'm not sick any more, and the cut on Katniss head will heal soon enough. If Thresh dies by result of Cato the only real competitor left is Cato. With the both of us I'm sure we can take him down. Then we'll go back home, only it will be different because maybe we'll be together. "I promise." I lean down and let my lips find hers for a quick kiss.

"I want to go home now," She says once I've sat up. Her words are sure, like a child wanting their mom.

"Tell you what. You go back to sleep and dream of home. And you'll be there for real before you know it. Okay?" I try to reassure her, she looks like she's about to let the tears fall out as she thinks of good old District Twelve.

"Okay," She whispers, barely audible over the rain and thunder, "Wake me if you need me to keep watch."

"I'm good and rested, thanks to you and Haymitch. Besides, who knows how long this will last?" I let her close her eyes and welcome sleep as I welcome the lonely sound of rain again. At least I know she's safe with me.

After about an hour I will myself to think of home just like I told Katniss to do. It will be way different than what I left if we do make it back. I won't just be the baker's son; I'll be Peeta Mellark District Twelve Victor. I won't sleep in a room above the shop; I'll sleep in a house in Victor's Village. Most importantly it won't be me just watching her anymore. She'll be mine. Maybe she hasn't warmed up completely to the idea, but she actually opened up to me and told me about Rue. Doesn't that mean she feels at least something for me? Katniss isn't one to talk about emotional things, but didn't she just tell me something pretty emotional? She will be mine and I will be hers. Maybe we'll be able to live happily ever after.

I hope you liked it! Do not forget to REVIEW or FOLLOW on the way out! Thanks! -boywithbreadlover