Second Chances

by Peetabreaddd

FULLY UPDATED! What happens when Katniss can't live without Peeta anymore after they won the war? Feeling lonely, Katniss does something tragic to make it all stop, but is given a second chance to make everything right. STORY HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REDONE

2. Chapter 2

The afternoon went by slowly for her. She barely spoke, not really believing that Cinna was sitting right next to her. She held his hand through lunch, and he rubbed it between his.

"I already know everything Haymitch knows. And we'll figure something out. Everything will be ok," he told her.

In no time at all, they were in the elevator. The door opened, and she saw Cato walking by it. That was enough to cause panic in her chest. Cinna pushed a button to close, and lock the elevator doors, and then he grabbed her face.

"You can do this Katniss. You knew you'd see them all here. Don't look at them. Look at the ground, and I'll hold your hand. I'll take you to the chariot, and to Peeta. Him and Portia should already be there. Just keep your head down and let me guide you," he said. Katniss' whole body shook, and she shook her head.

"No this was a mistake. I can't do this. I have horrible nightmares of them. I see Marvel when I hunt. I can't. Please Cinna don't make me do this," she cried.

"You know I can't stop this. Even if I tried. They'll force you down in there. Let me take you to them Katniss. You can do this. Just follow me," he said. They heard a pounding on the door. Cinna was right, they would force her. He took her hand and opened the door. Two guards were waiting for them.

"She needed a moment. Come on," he told her, and guided her. Katniss kept her eyes closed. They walked for a few minutes, until they stopped. She could hear the horses next her.

"Well, hello there, sweetheart," she heard Haymitch say.

"Open your eyes. They're all behind you, you can't see them," Cinna told her. True to his word, they were all behind her. Peeta was standing in front of her, between Haymitch and Portia. Effie stood next to Haymitch, and they all stared at her in concern.

"I'm a mess. I can't do this," she whispered. Peeta's face fell. She knew he wanted to hug her, but he couldn't. Not where everyone was watching. Haymitch leaned forward.

"You can do this. Peeta will be there the whole time. You even get to hold his hand," Haymitch told her. But Katniss shook her head.

"I barely saw Cato and freaked out. How am I supposed to look at all of them? I killed some of them. I can't. I just can't," she said, shaking her head. Haymitch stopped her head from shaking.

"Get your ass on that chariot girl!" Haymitch said. Katniss stopped and stared at him. Effie gasped. Cinna and Portia looked at each other. Peeta put his hand on Haymitch's arm, trying to pull him back, but Haymitch turned around and pushed Peeta back.

"Don't get in between us," Haymitch said loudly.

Peeta looked around and noticed some people were looking at them. Well, this would definitely add some fuel to the fire. No pun intended of course. When he admits that he loves Katniss for all of Panem to hear, the tributes will remember things like this. Things like Peeta trying to help Katniss. Haymitch turned back to Katniss.

"You can, and you will get up there. You'll hold that boy's hand and smile. You'll blow kisses and catch flowers from all these damn sick Capitol people. You'll wave to them and pretend like they matter to you. And then you'll look around in the City Circle and see all the tributes faces. You'll do it because you can. You killed them. So what? They're not dead yet. They're very much alive. Now get up there or so help me God Katniss Everdeen I will throw you up there myself," Haymitch whispered loudly to her.

Peeta looked around again. No one could hear him except their little group. To the others, it just looked like Haymitch and Katniss were fighting. Peeta noticed that Katniss stopped trembling. He let go of her face and straightened up.

"Thank you. Now you can stand there until they all get on their chariots, so you don't have to look at them. We'll stand here pretending to have a nice, civilized conversation. Then you'll get up there, hold Peeta's hand, and Cinna will set you on fire," Haymitch said. Katniss nodded her head. Peeta couldn't believe that worked. Haymitch patted her shoulder.

"You'll do great." Haymitch told her nicely. Sincerely. They waited a few minutes, until the music started. Haymitch stood still as Peeta hopped onto to the chariot. He knew Haymitch was waiting till the last possible second to let her move. Cinna ran around and set Peeta's costume on fire. Portia and Effie clapped their hands.

"I know Katniss is the Girl on Fire, but seriously, he's the Boy on Fire!" Portia said. Effie squealed and clapped her hands, jumping up and down. Although Peeta couldn't understand how she was able to jump in those high heels. Haymitch made a face, and looked Peeta up and down, and then snorted. Cinna laughed.

"What?" Peeta asked. Haymitch smiled.

"The Boy on Fire. Didn't you burn the first piece of bread you ever gave Katniss?" Haymitch asked, looking back at Katniss. She crossed her arms and glared at him. "So, both of these fires are purposely done?" he asked. Cinna laughed, walking around them and lighting Katniss on fire.

"What's your point Haymitch?" Peeta demanded. But he just shook his head.

"Actually nothing. Just making an observation. It's just funny. Alright then. Up you go, Girl on Fire," Haymitch said. Maneuvering Katniss onto the chariot. Peeta held her hand, and she squeezed tightly. He smiled at her.

"You got this Girl on Fire," he told her. The others stepped away, and the chariot started to move. She held on tight. "It's ok. Just look ahead. You won't see their faces right now," he told her.

Katniss took a deep breath and looked at the chariot in front of them. Rue and Thresh. "You can do this. We can still save them," Peeta told her. She nodded her head. "It's show time," he said.

The crowd cheered loudly when they came out. They were on fire! They both stretched their joined hands up into the air. More applause. They smiled and waved and blew kisses. Just like Haymitch wanted. The crowd was eating out of their hands. He looked at Katniss and saw her face. She was smiling and waving.

"Keep it going. They totally believe you right now," he encouraged her. She looked over at him and smiled.

"Thank you. I can't do this without you, I won't make it," she said. His heart melted. He knew that saying things like this was hard for her. Admitting she needed someone. He couldn't help from a real smile filling his face.

"If we weren't supposed to wait till the arena to kiss, I'd kiss you right now," he said. She gave him a real smile back, and a rose fell in front of them.

He picked it up and handed it to her. She rolled her eyes, looked back at the crowd and smiled, holding up the rose. Blowing kisses to complete strangers. These people were idiots. It was plain and simple. As they got closer to the circle, he felt Katniss' grip start to tighten. He leaned in, never looking away from the crowd, still smiling.

"Just keep breathing. Look at them now. It will only be harder tomorrow. And don't ever let go of my hand," he said and blew another kiss.

They made it into the circle, and he watched her. She saw Glimmer and Marvel first. He knew that a lot of her nightmares contained the both of them. A lot of times when she shot at something, she saw Marvel, falling. And a lot of times when she dreams of tracker jackers, she sees Glimmer's blown-up face.

Then Cato and Clove. She fought them off in her dreams a lot. The only reason he knew this, was because she talked in her sleep.

He saw Foxface. How could they still be calling her that? Were they ever going to learn her name?

More and more tributes, and then Rue and Thresh. They both held their heads tall and smiled at him. He looked quick to see if Katniss if she saw the exchange, but her face was the other way. She was looking at Snow. Their chariot turned around, and so did her face. Peeta's eyes bugged out. She was shooting daggers out of her eyes, and he grabbed her hand tightly and pulled her close, trying his hardest not to be obvious.

"Stop it don't look at him," he whispered.

"I want to kill him. I want to make him pay for everything he's done," she said, venom coming out of her mouth.

"If I have to kiss you right here Katniss you will ruin everything. Stop glaring at him please Katniss. If you won't do it for me, do it for Prim," he hissed at her. She stared at him suddenly. Prim's name had brought her out of her own circle of hatred. "You can do this for her. Remember that. Don't worry about him right now," he told her.

She nodded and looked around. Luckily, it had happened so quickly, that no one noticed. He still held tightly to her hand. He looked back at Rue and Thresh. They looked over to him and both smiled. He knew it. They had their memories. He turned back to Katniss, who was staring straight ahead, at no one.

"They smiled at me. They didn't do that last time. They remember," he whispered. Katniss looked at him. "One look won't hurt you Katniss," he said.

She moved her eyes over her shoulders. He knew she must have locked eyes, with both of them or just Rue, but tears filled her eyes, and he squeezed her hand harder, never looking away from her. "Don't do it. Look at me," he told her. She looked back at him.

"Don't cry. Just look up at Snow. Pretend like we're paying attention," he said. She nodded and looked back up at Snow.

"Tributes. We welcome you," Snow said. It was sickening. This was the man that had ruined their lives. He was the one who put Tracker jacker venom into his brain. Made him lose his place in reality. He caused Katniss to kill herself.

"And we salute your courage and your sacrifice," he said. Katniss scoffed.

"Courage and sacrifice my ass," Katniss said before she could stop herself. Peeta's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her hand. Only a few of the tributes heard and they turned to her and laughed in shock. Peeta shook her hand and Katniss looked over at him.

"I'm so sorry," Katniss said. He would have laughed, but it just wasn't the right time. Snow was talking and he was just sick to his stomach.

He had been so lost in his memories, that he was startled when the chariot pulled away, and they were back under the Training Center. Haymitch, Cinna, Effie and Portia were awaiting their arrival. They hadn't all been there last time, but he knew, it was for Katniss. Maybe to even block her from seeing the others. He knew Haymitch was aggravated with Katniss just by the look on his face. She had shown anger for a few seconds there. He had hoped no one had seen.

"What the hell did you say?" Haymitch demanded.

"I couldn't stop myself. It just came out," Katniss said.

"What just came out?" Katniss and Peeta just looked at each other. Effie clapped her hands.

"It doesn't matter. You two were perfect," Effie squealed Peeta and Cinna helped Katniss off the chariot. Haymitch shook his head at Katniss.

"You need food, and sleep. You're getting some sleeping pills tonight. The good stuff. The stuff that keeps you from dreaming. Eat quick, shower, and go to bed. We'll be late to training tomorrow," Haymitch said. Katniss just nodded at him.

"My dress ripped," a little girl said. They looked to the side and saw Rue awfully close to them. Peeta felt Katniss tense up. He couldn't hold her hand right now, but Cinna laid his arm over her shoulder. Rue was bent down next to them, fiddling with her dress. They watched as Seeder bent down to help her.

"It's alright darling. No need to worry about the dress," Seeder said, and guided her up.

"They just sell the dresses after the Games. Don't think twice about it," Marlah told her. They knew all about Marlah. She won the 73rd Hunger Games. Just last year. Thresh walked up with Chaff next to them.

"Haymitch my good man. Where have you been all day?" Chaff yelled and hugged him. He looked over his shoulder and winked at Peeta and Katniss. He pulled back and nodded to them. "Well done, Cinna. They were on fire tonight," Chaff laughed at his joke, waving his good arm around.

"Was it that obvious?" Peeta asked nervously. Everyone chuckled around them.

"Introduce me to you tributes Mr. Abernathy," Seeder said, holding Rue close to her.

"These are my kids on fire. Peeta and Katniss. And I introduce them in the order that I like them," Haymitch said, trying to joke with Katniss. Peeta looked at her, and she put her head down and laughed. She looked back up and looked around quickly. She looked at Thresh.

"Thank you so much for saving me," Katniss whispered. Chaff laughed loudly and thumped Thresh on the back. Thresh crossed his arms, and glared at Katniss, but gave her a wink. He was smart to.

"You're welcome 12," he whispered back. Katniss looked down at Rue, and Rue smiled widely.

"WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW I WOULD SET THE WHOLE POOL ON FIRE!" Chaff yelled, laughing loudly with Haymitch. Everyone chuckled around them. Chaff was the greatest distraction. Peeta was liking Chaff more and more. Being smart enough to not cause any suspicion.

"I knew you could do it," Rue said. Everyone had moved around to stand close in a circle to cover Katniss and Rue, so Rue reached out her hand and held Katniss' hands. He could feel a certain tension leave Katniss' body. To anyone who didn't know her, wouldn't realize what had happened. Being with Rue again, her friend, her little sister...this was her second chance. He knew she would be alright after this one moment. He caught Haymitch's eye. He must have known it to. They all must have. They did this, so Katniss could see Rue again.

"And don't say you're sorry. Thank you for taking care of me," she whispered. Katniss smiled, and Cinna held her tighter against him. Rue let go of her hand and leaned more on Seeder again.

"And you just watch my Amazon boy here. Watch out kids on fire!" Chaff yelled and laughed again. Peeta wanted to laugh at him, but if Chaff had been serious, Peeta wouldn't have laughed.

Effie led them all to the elevators. Katniss and Peeta in the back, leaning up against the wall. She rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes, letting out a deep breath. Just as the doors were about to close, someone ran in, and pushed their way to the back as the doors closed. Katniss' eyes flew open. Finnick stood in front of her, biggest smile and arms wide opened. Katniss jumped and flew into his arms.

"Finnick," Katniss sobbed.

"Push 12 first," Haymitch told Cinna. The elevator would go all the way up to 12 first rather than 4, so she'd have more time.

"Hey best friend. I've missed you," Finnick said into her ear. Rubbing her back as she cried. "No more nightmares about me anymore ok. I don't regret what I did for one minute. You saved our whole world, and I'm proud of you. So, don't feel sorry for me, or guilty. Because I'm here now. And I'll be more careful. I'll be ok. And when I see my son born you can finally see what I was fighting for," Finnick said. Katniss pulled back and looked at him.

"You are just like my brother Finnick. And I adore you. And I'm sorry I never told you, "She said. Finnick's smile got even bigger. He looked around.

"She adores me huh. How many of you has she told you she adores? Definitely not you," Finnick said, pointing to Haymitch, then looking at Peeta and pointing to him, then looked back at Katniss, still pointing to Peeta.

"Now don't tell me you love me yet before you tell this boy. That's just plain wrong. I know I'm prettier, but I do have a heart," Finnick said. Katniss laughed. Peeta thought it was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. Finnick wiped at her tears.

"Come on, no more crying. You have a BIG, BIG day ahead of you," he joked, mocking Effie. Effie slapped him on the back as the elevator opened. He hugged Katniss again. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said and pushed her away. They got out of the elevator and looked around. Katniss wiped tears away from her face.

"Go take a quick shower and wash the crap off your face. You can eat dinner fast, and I should have the sleeping pills up here by the time dinners ready," Haymitch said, walking towards his room.

"Do we still get that cake that's on fire?" Peeta called out to him. Haymitch turned around and glared at him. "I just think it's like tradition or something. We were on fire, the dessert was on fire, you know," Peeta said. Everyone laughed at him, and Haymitch flicked him off. Making Peeta laugh. He and Katniss walked towards their rooms when Katniss stopped him.

"You shouldn't really be near an open flame anyways," they heard Effie say to Haymitch.

"I'll see you in a few minutes. Don't take so long. Just a quick shower alright," Peeta said. Katniss nodded her head. They did take quick showers and arrived at dinner. Haymitch had pills next to both Katniss and Peeta's plates. Peeta looked at Haymitch.

"Don't want anyone thrashing around in their sleep and talking," Haymitch said. Peeta knew what that meant. Katniss and Peeta had nightmares. Bad ones. They didn't want to let the Capitol know that though. He and Katniss both took the pills and started eating.

"Eat a lot. I want lots of meat on those bones. And eat fast. Those sleeping pills will start to kick in in about 15 or 20 minutes. You don't need to watch the Tribute parade again. Riding through it is enough," Haymitch told them.

"Three freaken times," Katniss grumbled. They did as they were told. They ate fast.

"Now you wanna tell me what you said out there?" Haymitch asked. Peeta heard Katniss gulp.

"Courage and sacrifice my ass," Katniss said. Effie gasped and Cinna chuckled.

"Where are your manners?" Effie demanded.

"Don't pull that shit," Haymitch reprimanded her. Effie smacked him.

After about 10 minutes, Peeta could already start to feel the effects. He shook his head to wake himself up. "I won't give you them this early tomorrow. But I just want you two to have some extra sleep. Especially today," he said. Because they just came back today. "You need all the sleep you can get. It's about time you've had some," Haymitch told them.

They nodded, and only a few minutes later, were both staring at the table through their eyelids. Haymitch pushed his chair out and laughed. Cinna pushed his chair out as well, and they both walked over to help Peeta, and Katniss stand up.

"Come on sleepy heads, your beds await you," Cinna said, guiding Katniss down the hall, with Haymitch guiding Peeta right behind them. When Cinna got to Katniss' room, she moaned and turned around, looking for Peeta. She grabbed his face in her hands.

"I'm too afraid to sleep on my own. I don't care what these pills do. Please stay with me," Katniss begged. Peeta nodded and put his forehead against hers. Haymitch and Cinna looked at each other.

"She must be out of it. She never admits her feelings," Cinna whispered.

"A couple of times she has, in a round about way. She told Snow that he had asked her to convince him she was in love with Peeta. And then said that hadn't she done that?" Haymitch whispered back. Cinna raised his eyebrows. Katniss admitted then that she loved Peeta.

"Always," Peeta whispered to her. She smiled, and Cinna pulled her towards the bed again. He helped her lay down, and Haymitch went to help Peeta, when Peeta pushed at Haymitch's chest.

"I got this ok. I'm not stupid completely," Peeta said, tripping over Cinna's foot and laughing.

"Did you mean to say not completely stupid?" Cinna asked. Peeta laughed and crawled into bed. He curled his body around Katniss, making her face him. She looked up at him and laughed. Peeta laughed back. Cinna pulled the covers over them, and Haymitch laughed.

"Nighty night children," Haymitch said, as they both left the room. Katniss let out a deep breath and nuzzled her face in the crook of Peeta's neck.

"Thank you for being alive. And thank you for getting me through this day," Katniss drowsily said. Peeta kissed her cheek.

"Anytime," he whispered.

"I've missed you so much. You're all I ever thought about," she said sleepily, and then they let the sleeping pill put them to sleep. Peeta had missed what she said.

Peeta had had the most restful night sleep of his life. He woke up and was wide awake. Those sleeping pills worked miracles. Was he really going to sleep with them in his system every night till the Games? He'd be so addicted to them; he won't be able to get any sleep in the Games without them. He'd have to talk to Haymitch about that. And Katniss. She will need her sleep. He'll be laying on the ground dying for most of the games, but not her.

He looked down at her sleeping peacefully. He had never seen her sleep that peacefully before. He leaned down and kissed her forehead. She was beautiful. And she was all his? He wasn't sure of that. They had never had a real conversation about what they were. The last he knew, she was still pining after Gale, but he came back, to find her bleeding on the ground, dying, saying she couldn't live without him. Was she choosing him? He had remembered on the beach in the second arena, that she said that she needed him. And she had kissed him. Like really kissed him. It was the first time that her kisses felt real. But there was no way to find out yet.

He was brought out of his daydreaming, by Katniss opening her eyes. She yawned and stretched her arms, and then wrapped them around his torso. Despite where they were, he was happy. He woke up beside the love of his life, and he was happy.

"Good morning," he whispered to her. She looked up and smiled. "No nightmares?" he asked.

"God no. I feel like I just closed my eyes, and I'm awake again. Those pills knocked me out. You?" she asked. He smiled and nodded. They stared at each other for a moment, and he leaned down and kissed her. It was a short kiss, and he leaned his forehead against hers.

"Did yesterday really happen?" he asked. She held on to him tighter.

"I feel like I'm gonna open my eyes, and I'll be back in my house all alone. And you'll still be hijacked," she said sadly. He made her look at him.

"My mind is clear. I'm ok. And you're not alone. You'll never be alone again," Peeta told her. She stared into his eyes. "Did you mean what you said before? When you said you couldn't live without me? That you needed me?" he asked her, closing his eyes. He felt her kiss his lips, and he opened his eyes again to look at her.

"You were right that we have to talk when we get home. And I'll try my best to answer every question or concern that you have. I'm not the best talker. But I meant what I said Peeta. When I was alone, I missed you. So much. Please don't think no one back home needs you. Because I need you. More than anything in the world. I need you more than anyone," she whispered. It was hard for her to say that. He knew that about her. But he smiled, and went to kiss her again, but then stopped.

"What?"

"Just one more question," he said. Katniss waited. "Gale," he said. Her lips turned into a straight line. And she shifted a little and looked down.

"He remembered. His memory came back as we were walking off the stage. And he came to visit me and I... I told him I didn't feel that way about him," she said. His eyes widened and he smiled.

She chose him. She chose Peeta. He had wanted her to choose him, and she finally did. She chose him a long time ago, but he just never knew it. She probably didn't even know it. But when did she choose him? Was it just because he was her last choice…he needed to get those thoughts out of his head. He pushed her onto her back and kissed her, opening her mouth, and slipping his tongue in. She was his. They were together. He went back and forth between his feelings.

They never used to kiss like this. Never with their tongues touching. This was new territory for them. The passion instantly started heating up, when there was a knock on the door, and Haymitch barged in. Peeta slid off her to glare at him, but Haymitch just smiled.

"It's 9:30. I let you sleep in long enough. You can get dressed and eat some breakfast before Effie takes you to training," Haymitch said, smiling the whole time and leaving the room. Peeta let out a chuckle and put his head down on the crook of Katniss' neck. He picked his head back up and looked at her. He pushed some hair away from her face and kissed her.

"We'll just take it one day at a time. We'll be home before you know it. And we can continue this where we can't get interrupted," he said. Katniss nodded her head, and they got up for the day.

They were to the table within a few minutes. Haymitch sipping his coffee. "Any word yet?" Peeta asked.

Haymitch looked at Effie, and she shooed any Avox's away. They sat at the table, with Cinna and Portia. Haymitch looked at his watch. Peeta noticed he had never seen that watch before. Haymitch noticed Peeta's observation right away.

"It lets me know when the microphones are off. We can speak freely until I tell you shoot a squirrel," Haymitch said. Everyone nodded, but Katniss and Peeta gave each other an odd look.

"And keep eating. You'll be training today remember," he told Peeta and Katniss. They served themselves and waited for Haymitch to talk.

"It's only been a day. Not much has surfaced. But there are a lot of rebels who know what's going. And that's a good thing. Prim said it perfect, we know what a years' worth of tomorrows bring. We know exactly what Snow is going to do. With that said, it is the most important detail that you do everything exactly the same. We want to play it as safe as we can, with the smallest number of causalities," Haymitch said.

Peeta looked over at Katniss and held out his hand for her. She took it and she squeezed tight. "The camera men saw your face when you saw Snow, and they pretended to have some weird malfunction until you acted normal again. We can't have another slip up like that again," Haymitch told her. Katniss closed her eyes and then opened them again.

"Ok," she said. Everyone in the room was waiting for her to say something else. Not fighting Haymitch back with his plans wasn't like Katniss. But Haymitch continued, eyeing her.

"Ok. When you're in training, you go to every station together. This is what I told you last time, but you ignored me sometimes. Stay together. Talk to each other. But don't kiss or hold hands. Be nice, but don't act like you've been through two arenas and war together. You just first talked to each other yesterday," he told them. They both nodded.

"Don't show your skills, but learn something new. Take him to the damn edible plants station for God sakes. And learn something that you can eat," Haymitch told Peeta.

Peeta would never forget when they got home, they were watching T.V. one day, when Haymitch sat up and smacked him in the head out of nowhere and started yelling about the berries. After everything he'd gone through to get him that medicine and food, he's gonna kill himself with poisonous berries? Peeta smiled at the memory of Haymitch yelled at him..

Katniss smiled and nodded her head at Haymitch.

"Thanks," Peeta said sarcastically to Haymitch.

"Stay away from Rue and Thresh. Any bonding with them shows an alliance. We don't want the Careers thinking you four have an alliance," he ordered.

"How are we going to save them?" Katniss asked.

"We don't know yet. Or at least I don't know. But I will. I'll make a promise to you both. I'll be more honest with the plans IF..." Haymitch trailed off. "You do exactly what I say. Smile when I need you to smile. Blow kisses when I need you to blow kisses. And cry when I need you to cry. What you did last time worked. Everything you did, angered Snow. I need you to do it again. Just like you did before because we know his reactions to what you do. Can you do that sweetheart?" he asked. Everyone looked at her.

"I can do this," she whispered. Peeta smiled at her and squeezed her leg.

"Good. Then I promise as soon as I know, and that I can tell you, that I'll tell you how we'll save them. I know some rebels are working on it. But nothing yet. It's only been a few days hours. So, give us some time," Haymitch said. They both nodded.

"Rue and Thresh are instructed on the same thing. They'll be acting the same as they did last time to. But Finnick has been warned not to come around again. So, don't be surprised when you don't see him or the other Victors again. We ran a risk by letting you talk with them last night," Haymitch said. Peeta knew why they did it. They needed to remind Katniss what she was fighting for.

"Go shoot a squirrel," Haymitch said sarcastically to Katniss. She glared at him and threw a roll at him. Effie gasped.

"Manners. What is wrong with you. You don't throw food at the breakfast table!" Effie screeched. Peeta smiled at her. He felt that her role in all this was the easiest to play. But silently thanked her for what she brought to the table.

"So, what is with the matching outfits for training?" Peeta asked. Katniss stared at him oddly. He turned to Portia and Cinna, and he smiled. "I kinda wanted to know," he asked. Cinna and Portia smiled.

"Me and Cinna came up with a beautiful angle for the pair of you the instant we saw the Reaping," Portia said proudly.

"Haymitch and Effie agree. Unity. We want you to show that you're a team…but the way you act is not forming an alliance," Cinna said. The conversation went on like that for a few minutes before Effie ushered them downstairs to the Training Center.

He and Katniss walked together into the group to listen to Atala speak of the different stations. Katniss eyed her, and then looked at Peeta with disgust. She leaned in closer.

"I get sick every time I hear her talk. Please go to a different station, learn a new skill so you can kill each other all for our entertainment," Katniss hissed. Peeta looked around, and no one noticed. Everyone was listening to her speak. It was sickening.

The next week of training was brutal. Peeta and Katniss did as Haymitch said. They didn't talk a lot in front of the other Tributes, which wasn't an easy thing. They knew each other so well. And sometimes he could see Katniss struggling. He sometimes would touch in her someway when no one was looking. Hold her hand, rub her back. Anything to let her know that he was there.

They both worked with the trainers on the hand-to-hand combat. Their bodies were out of shape. Those few months before the Quarter Quell, they had worked their bodies to prepare for the arena. Their bodies weren't trained anymore. They tried to mix it up, going to different stations, so the Careers wouldn't get suspicious of them. If they constantly just worked in the physical stations, they would see them as fighters, and threats. Anything could change.

They didn't see Finnick again that week. Katniss confessed she missed him one night before she fell asleep.

They sometimes would stay up and talk a little while they were waiting for their pills to kick in.

"What did you think of me?" Peeta asked her suddenly. Katniss turned her head to look at him. "What did you think of me when we got here. You would get mad at me sometimes, and I couldn't understand why. What was going through your head?" he asked. Katniss laid her head back to his shoulder.

"I didn't want to get to know you, because I couldn't bear the thought of killing you. And I hoped against anything that someone else would kill you because I just couldn't ever do it myself." she said. He gulped. "God that's the most horrible thing ever. This is why I hate talking." Katniss grumbled. He knew she was starting to cry.

"What else?" he asked.

"Why do you want to know? Nothing I say is ever nice." she asked him. He knew she didn't want to talk about this. But he figured instead of one long drawn-out conversation, where it will start good but end in her being frustrated, and her never really telling him everything, he figured do it in chunks. They never talked about their first Games together, so why not get that out of the way. Then they can move forward little by little.

"Because we never talked about it. We never dealt with it. So, let's try and start now." he told her, rubbing her shoulder. He heard her take a deep breath, and he waited for her to start talking. "Here just lay down and put your head in my lap." he told her. She laid down and did what he said. He instantly tangled his fingers in her hair. He had never told her, but he loved running his fingers through her hair. He wondered if she knew.

"I wanted someone's name to be called that I didn't know. That I had never seen before. Whether they were from the Seam or the town, I didn't want to have ever recognize them. But I did recognize you. I did know you. You couldn't just be some boy who had been in the same grade as me and most of my classes, you had to be the one boy who I would think about. Who I would watch." she said. Peeta thought it was best to not say anything. Just let her talk.

"You had to give me that bread that day,"

"It couldn't have been someone I didn't know. It was you. And I hated that it was you who was reaped. Because I knew I couldn't kill you. I didn't realize really why I couldn't until now. But I never would have done it. I never would be the one to kill you." Katniss said. He felt her squeeze his leg and he started rubbing her back. "And you were so nice. I wished you weren't so nice. If you were a jerk, it would be easy. It would give me justification why I could kill you. But you were so sweet in taking care of Haymitch when he was drunk on the train, and you cleaned him up. And you were fun to talk to on the chariot. You made it easier for me. You always tried to make things easier for me. And I just bit your head off constantly. You were so nice." she said. Peeta chuckled at that.

"So do you want me to mean from now on?" Peeta asked. He watched her shake her head.

"I don't want you to ever be anyone but Peeta Mellark." she told him. He smiled. Did she love him? God, this was killing him inside. He just wanted to know, "Although it would be nice when I'm being mean or irrational that you would yell back at me sometimes." she told him. He laughed again, and he leaned down and kissed her head.

"I'll try to yell at you next time your being crazy and irrational." he told her. She turned her body, so she was facing up at him.

"I never said crazy." Katniss protested, but he leaned down and kissed her. He picked his head back up and linked one of his hands with hers. The other he continued to keep playing with her hair.

"So, tell me what else you thought about in there with me." he asked her. She thought for a minute.

"All of my thoughts were dark and terrible." she said sadly.

"Well, I hope they were. It would be weird if they were happy and all sunshiny." Peeta joked, pushing hair off her forehead.

"Sunshiny isn't even a word."

"You're changing the subject." he told her. She knew he was right, so he waited again for her to start talking. But then he realized, it was too much. "It's ok. We don't have to talk anymore tonight,"

They were sleeping soundly every night, due to the sleeping pills Haymitch was giving them. He tried to bring up the fact that they may not be able to sleep in the arena without them, but Haymitch said to not worry about that. He would take care of it.

There days were slammed pack, not leaving Peeta any chance to talk to Katniss. The microphones were on most of the time. And as each day passed, Katniss became more and more frantic about not knowing how to save Rue. We both dreaded the day our private sessions came with the Gamemakers. Katniss didn't like being alone. If she wasn't with him, she was always with Haymitch, Effie or Cinna. Once she was even escorted by Portia. They were all worried about her. They all took it one day at a time with her. He dreaded the moment that they entered the arena.

"You gonna be ok?" Peeta asked her. Katniss put her head down.

"Gotta be by myself sometime right? I'll be fine," she said, but he wasn't too convinced.

"Just shoot straight," he reminded her. She looked up at him and smiled. He went into his private session, throwing around the weights again. He decided to take a page out of Katniss' book, and throw something towards the Gamemakers. He took a weight ball and threw it at them. Not to where it would go over the railing, but just so it would hit the wall under them. They all startled, and Peeta covered his hand with his mouth.

"I'm so sorry, I judged wrong," Peeta said, giving them a dazzling smile. Seneca Crane leaned over the railing, and looked down at the ball, and then back at him.

"Did you throw that all the way over here?" he asked. Peeta nodded.

"I'm so sorry, I meant to throw it that way. It's really heavy and I spun it and misjudged when to let go," Peeta said, pointing shakily the other way. The way he meant to throw it. Peeta gave them all another smile.

Seneca smiled, and winked. He turned back around and started talking to the others. Seneca Crane winked? Was Seneca on the rebellion side? Seneca didn't wink last time…but then again, Peeta didn't even get Seneca's attention last time.

Peeta left, and went up to the penthouse, and waited for Katniss. Haymitch, Portia, Cinna and Effie were all waiting for them. "How'd it go?" Haymitch asked.

Peeta nodded. They waited anxiously for Katniss. He was a bundle of nerves. Would she do it exactly the same? Would she do exactly what Haymitch told her to do? The elevator dinged and the doors opened, causing them all to jump. Haymitch pulled Katniss off the elevator. "Please tell me you hit the apple?" Haymitch asked.

"I always shoot straight," she said, and bowed like she did to the Gamemakers. They all laughed and hugged her.

"I knew you could do it," Peeta said, and kissed her quickly on the cheek.

"And I still got Plutarch to fall into the punch bowl. He still deserved that!" They sat on the couch watching the scores. When it was Peeta's turn, the room went silent, aside from Effie's gasp, when Peeta came out with a 10, instead of an 8.

"What? You got an 8-last time," Effie hissed. Katniss' eyes widened, and he saw red in Haymitch's eyes.

"What did you do differently?" Haymitch demanded.

"They weren't even watching. I just took a weight ball and threw it at the wall under the railing that's all," Peeta said. Cinna groaned and covered his face.

"Here I am worried that she'll screw something up in there, when it was you, I had to worry about all along? What is the matter with you? What were you thinking?" he demanded, slamming his hands on the coffee table. His watch vibrated. "Good the microphones are off so I can really let you have it," Haymitch said.

"This isn't a big deal Haymitch. I got a better score, so what?" Peeta said.

"So what? You threw something at them. You both did. Are you idiots? They're gonna think you planned the whole freaken thing!" he yelled, throwing his glass at the wall. "I have to go do damage control. Go to bed the both of you!" he yelled at them, walking away. The room was quiet.

"I'm sorry," Peeta said. Portia rubbed his back.

"Just listen to the poor man. All he's ever trying to do is get you two home to your families. You two are the only children he has. The only family he has," Portia said. Peeta and Katniss stared at her.

"Go on get to bed. Just remember to take these," Cinna said, and handed them the sleeping pills. They both walked to Peeta's room and took a glass of water to wash the pills down with and settled into bed.

"I think what you did was pretty brave. And I think it's kinda awesome," Katniss said as she snuggled into Peeta.

"What I did was stupid, not brave. I was just frustrated and didn't think. I'll apologize to Haymitch tomorrow. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. They just put all us kids through this. They rip us from our families and murder us, and don't even pay attention to us. I just get angry sometimes," Peeta grumbled, frustrated, and banged his head against the wall. Katniss held him tighter. "I'm sorry I shouldn't be laying this all out on you," Peeta sighed.

"Why not. It's all I've done to you for almost two years," she said while she grabbed his hand with hers and interlocked their fingers.

"Well not really. You never really truly complained to me. You never let me in on what you were really thinking," Peeta said sadly. Katniss sat up and looked at him. His body was a year younger, but his eyes weren't. His eyes had gone through two arenas, a war and a hijacking, and was about to go through another arena.

"I really hurt you, didn't I?" Katniss asked quietly. Peeta looked down at her hand and pulled it into his again.

"It's not that you hurt me on purpose or anything. I know that. I expected too much from you," he told her. Katniss closed her eyes. She had tried so hard to fight her feelings for so long, that she didn't even know what they were until it was too late. Even now she questioned anything she felt.

"I'm sorry," she said. It was all she could say. She didn't know what to say to him, to make it all better. To make sense of any of it. "I'll try and be better for you Peeta," she said, looking down at the bed. She felt his finger under her chin, guiding her to look at him.

"I don't want you to be anyone but yourself. And I don't want you to be anything for anyone. Be the person that you want to be, for you," he told her. How could he say such beautiful things like that, and be ok with getting nothing in return?

"I promise. When we get back. We'll clear the air about everything," she said. He smiled at her.

"I'm going to hold you to that Katniss. You just hold onto that thought to when we're in the Games. We won't be able to talk about anything. We won't have Haymitch in our ears constantly reminding us how to act. We go in there, and we just have to do it. We did it once, we can do it again," Peeta told her. She nodded.

She was in love with Peeta, right? She felt her whole body on fire when he touched her, and she didn't feel that way for Gale. That must be love. She watched as he yawned, and he shook his head. "We gotta make Haymitch not give us these anymore. We'll never be able to sleep in the arena,"

"I never really slept in the arena," Katniss admitted through a yawn.

"Come on lay down," Peeta said, scooting down. Katniss snuggled up to him and held him tight. In a few days she would be sleeping alone, in the arena, in a tree, without these arms to protect her. She felt him kiss her head.

"Sweet dreams Katniss," he said before he fell asleep, with Katniss following only a minute later. It felt like they just fell asleep when Haymitch came barging in, startling them both awake. He had a drink in his hand as he looked at them. He rolled his eyes.

"Please tell me you're being careful and not getting her pregnant? You two could ruin the whole plan if she gets knocked up," he said rudely. Katniss' mouth dropped, and Peeta shoved the blankets away, and pointed down to himself.

"We're still dressed Haymitch. Are you drunk?" Peeta demanded.

"It's coffee. Have some at the breakfast table with me," Haymitch said, and left the room. Peeta scrubbed his face, as Katniss yawned and stretched her arms.

"He's such a bastard," Katniss said. Peeta laughed and pushed her out of the bed. They made it to the dining room to see Effie, Cinna and Portia joining Haymitch. They started helping themselves to food when they heard Haymitch's watch vibrate.

"Alright the microphones are off again. This time when I tell you to go act like a lady, then you'll know it's back on," Haymitch said.

"Why are you always picking on me?" Katniss asked.

"Because you're the bigger pain in my ass. Let's get down to business," Haymitch said. Peeta felt it in his bones. This was the big one. This was the plan; he could feel it.

"Tomorrow is your live interviews with Caesar. Then the next day, you're back in the arena. The first part of the plan, you do everything you did last time. You run off separately, Peeta joins the Careers, Katniss gets caught by the fire and the Careers find you and you jump into a tree," Haymitch said. He looked at Katniss and saw her weary face. He knew she was hoping against hope, that they wouldn't have to follow the plan the exact way they did it last time.

"But before you run off to look for her Katniss, you're going to do one thing differently," Haymitch said. This perked their ears up. He turned to Peeta. "When the Careers find you that night. Remember how you help them pack all the supplies up into that big pile?" He asked. Peeta nodded his head.

"When Clove and Glimmer start fighting, you're going to take the other sheath of arrows, and hide them under a bush. You've seen the footage enough to know which bush I'm talking about. Where Katniss will stand a few days later and shoot the arrow to blow up the pile, and she hides under it," Haymitch said.

"Why?" Katniss asked. Haymitch smiled.

"When you get the extra arrows, you'll have more arrows for when you face the mutts. You don't want to lay around all night hearing Cato scream. Wait till he falls, kill some mutts, then kill him. And viola, I just saved Peeta's leg," Haymitch said.

Peeta didn't care about his leg. But he knew that it bothered Katniss. Not that she was repulsed. It was always a relief that she was never bothered by it. It was only her guilt when she saw his leg. That was also something that she cried about in her dreams. He held Katniss' hand, and she looked over at Haymitch with tears in her eyes. She cleared her throat and wiped them away.

"Thank you," she told Haymitch. He smiled brightly and pointed to his chest.

"That one was my idea," he said proudly. Peeta smiled at him. "Now, I don't have to go over every detail. I hope you get the point. Do everything the same. Make these degenerate Capitol people fall for the star-crossed lovers act hard,"

"I hope you're not including the three people at this table as degenerate Capitol people, are you?" Cinna asked. Haymitch laughed.

"Well not two of you," Haymitch said. Effie gasped and he laughed again. "There are some places though where I need you to do better," Haymitch said, staring at Katniss.

"When you wake up after the tracker jackers, and you're with Rue, flat out ask about Peeta. Don't say the boy from my district. Ask her if she knows where Peeta is. Rue didn't see that Cato hurt Peeta, because she got away from that area as soon as possible. All Rue had seen last time was him by the river, making his camouflage. She didn't know that he was hurt. So, her response will be just fine. I want you to let out a sigh of relief that he's still alive sweetheart," Haymitch told her. Peeta watched as Katniss closed her eyes, and let out a long sigh, then opened her eyes and looked at Haymitch. He smiled again.

"Perfect sweetheart, just like that. It's these little details that are what is gonna get us through. Then, when you finally do find him, and you're with him all those days, be nicer to him. That day when you went hunting was pitiful. None of that angry stuff. I want you both to talk about what it would be like to go home. Talk about a future. Throw every single Victor's name out there that you want to meet. And be more honest with him. Tell him about your past. Tell him about you," Haymitch told her. Katniss glared at him.

"Like what's your favorite color?" Peeta joked.

"I won't give up any more of my past to these people. No one else needs to know anything else about me. And I don't want to talk about that day with the bread. That's private. I gave that up last time, and I won't do that again," Katniss said, looking at Peeta. Haymitch took a sip of his drink, that Peeta knew wasn't coffee.

"That one I get sweetheart. So then, tell them that goat story again. Or make something up. But I want more. I need more. I need them falling head over heels in love with you. I want them to see you falling in love with this boy. Ask him why he waited until now to tell you he had a crush on you," Haymitch said, then turned to Peeta.

"Everyone listens to your words. Help her out. Bring her own words out. But don't overpower her. The world knows, or will know, that you love her. I want the world to see it change for her. I want them to love you more. It's gonna be worth it in the end. I promise," he told them.

"I thought we were supposed to act exactly the same?" Katniss asked dryly. Haymitch rolled his eyes.

"We have a second chance to make things better. I want the Capitol falling over in love with you. I don't want them to see any other Tribute. I want them to eat, sleep and breath Peeta and Katniss. So, use this second chance to make it better," he told her.

"So how are we gonna save the others?" Peeta asked. Haymitch and Cinna looked at each other and let out a shaky laugh.

"That one's a bit more advanced. And you can thank Beetee for this one. Everything else that I'm going to tell you, has to do with your trackers," Haymitch told them.

"How are our trackers going to help us?" Peeta asked.

"They aren't just trackers. These trackers are controlled by our rebels. First thing, your sleeping pills keeping you asleep, they will control your brain like the sleeping pills do, to keep you asleep, to wake you up, and to keep you dreamless. So, no one's screaming, alerting the others, or screaming about clocks and mockingjays," Haymitch told them. Peeta was amazed. This was one of the biggest concerns he had.

"How does it do that?" Katniss asked.

"I don't understand all the technology crap. If you wanna know all the details, then ask Beetee next year. I told him to stop telling me the tracker does all these things, and just tell me what they do," Haymitch said and took a long gulp of his drink.

"These rebels who are controlling the trackers, they know every inch of the 74th games. They had to watch it over and over again. They remember every move you made, so if they feel your moving in the wrong direction, then they're going to help you remember. You'll be able to hear someone talking in your head. That's them. Maybe that there's fresh water a mile away. Or which tree to sleep in. Or to be quieter because a Career is to close by. Or to remind you that you only have a day left so hold on,"

"That's amazing," Katniss whispered.

"And there's more. It's a pain blocker. Nothing strong by any means. But it'll help a little. Beetee decided that helping you sleep was better than stopping the pain. He hopes by next year he can get them to do both,"

"So Peeta will be lying there dying for days but you can take the edge off, and help him sleep?" Katniss asked. Haymitch smiled and shook his head.

"And the burn on Katniss's leg, she won't feel that so bad?" Peeta asked.

"Nope. Just a little. Unless she doesn't act like it's painful enough, then she will feel it," Haymitch told them, sipping his drink.

"I can act like I'm in pain. I'll do anything not to feel that burn again bad," Katniss said. Peeta could feel her shiver.

"Tell them the best part Haymitch," Effie said. She was bouncing in her seat, all giddy.

"What's the best part?" Katniss asked.

"These trackers can keep hearts beating...without someone else knowing they're beating," Haymitch said. Peeta's eyes widened. He knew where this was going. "Even if their heart was sliced in half, as long as it's still attached to the body with the tracker in it, both pieces of the heart will still keep beating," Haymitch said. Katniss gasped and covered her mouth. Peeta smiled, and wrapped his arm around Katniss, and put his other hand on her leg. This was it.

"The trackers are gonna tell the Gamemakers, that the tribute is dead. They'll fire the cannon, the hovercraft will come and take them away, and then two things will happen. The first thing they'll do is take the tribute, put them in a hidden room on the hovercraft, and put the tribute back together," Haymitch said. Katniss let out a small sob.

"So, they'll save them. They'll do surgery on Rue and Thresh and the others who died," Peeta said. Haymitch nodded. "What's the second thing that will happen?" Peeta asked.

"Well usually when a dead tribute goes to the hovercraft, they make their bodies look as they did before. Not beautiful like they should, but just how them came, put them in a coffin, and send them home," Haymitch said. Peeta couldn't bear the thought of them getting put into coffins. "And there will be a body...but it will be a fake," Haymitch said. They waited silently for them to continue.

"The real kids will be separated, then whisked away to a secret location. And then when Cato arrives, because he'll be the last to die, they'll take all 22 tributes, and hide them in District 13, while these fake bodies get sent back to their families," Haymitch said. Katniss let out a happier sob this time and covered her face with her hands.

"How did you do this Haymitch?" Peeta whispered. He just smiled.

"I didn't come up with this one, it was all Beetee. He was the one that made sure that this second chance meant something. He told me to tell you that this one he did for you. Because you don't deserve any more death," Haymitch told her. Katniss' lips trembled and tears fell from her eyes.

"There are a lot more rebels coming out of the woodwork who know what's going on. And they're all ready to fight a year early," Haymitch said.

"How are our trackers supposed to do all of that?" Peeta asked. Haymitch snorted.

"I told you, don't even ask me that. I don't know. And I don't even care at this point. They're in District 13 making thousands of them to distribute through the Districts. And Beetee's working on doing much more to them. Making them a deadly weapon in our own bodies," Haymitch said. The Revolution was starting, and Snow had no idea. The thought pleased Peeta. But then something else startled him.

"What about Coin? She doesn't remember, does she?" Peeta asked. Katniss' face fell. He could tell it wasn't something she thought of. Haymitch laughed.

"That dumb old bitch is so gullible. She doesn't remember anything. And she believes all the lies her people tell her. They don't like her either. Don't worry sweetheart. She won't hurt you like last time. But that's a year away. We're not worrying about anything else. Right now, our job is to worry about the 74th Hunger Games. But no, she doesn't remember. Her people are lying about how they have this information and are incredibly careful about how much they tell her, and how they tell her. We have a lot of rebels behind the scenes working their magic," Haymitch said. Katniss smiled.

"Rue and Thresh. They're going to live," Katniss whispered. Peeta leaned forward and hugged her. She smiled brightly at him, and then turned to Haymitch.

"I'll do my best Haymitch. I'll cry and beg for the pain to stop. I'll run, hunt, kill. I'll find Peeta and make everyone fall in love with our star-crossed lover's story. And I'll be the Girl on Fire and the Mockingjay," Katniss said. Everyone stared at her.

"What's with the sudden change of heart sweetheart?" Haymitch asked. Katniss leaned forward.

"Because I need to stop losing everyone. And this time, I want to stare Snow in the eye and laugh because I beat him. And he couldn't break me. When all my family and friends are alive, he'll be begging me for mercy to not send his granddaughter into the 76th Hunger Games. I want him to beg for her life, knowing that her life is in my hands. And I want to win," she said. Peeta smiled. They all smiled. It sounded like Katniss was back.

"Now do me a favor sweetheart, and act like a damn lady," Haymitch said. Effie gasped.

"Your manners are deplorable. Both of you!" Effie told them.

Peeta and Haymitch had a fake training session. They pretended for Haymitch to figure out that he had a crush on Katniss, and how they would work that to their advantage. All for the microphones to hear. Haymitch already had spoken with Katniss about what she would say for her interview, but they pretended to get into a fight, so he left within ten minutes.

Effie had gone in after and helped her walk in heels, which Katniss threw at her, making Effie scream and leave. Effie was so proud of herself, Peeta couldn't help but hug her. He knew how much it meant to Effie to be in on all the secrets from the very beginning. She loved being in on the secrets. He never realized how attached she was to Katniss and Peeta until the Quarter Quell. It wasn't just excitement that she had not only one victor, but two, and got to go to all the parties. It was when we were getting sent back in that she showed her true colors. She loved them. Even Katniss' bad side. She loved them like we were her children. And she took care Katniss while she was in District 13. So, letting Effie know she was doing a great job, and thanking her, he knew it meant something to her. She had definitely changed.

Peeta suddenly hugged her, startling Effie.

"What's this for?" she asked as he pulled away.

"I've never had the chance to tell you how much you mean to me. You're a part of my family Effie, and I want you to know how much we love you. And to thank you for being there for us. And thank you for being you during all of this," Peeta said. She flicked at the tears that were welling up.

"You my boy…if I were to ever have children…I would want a son just like you," she said and turned her head towards Katniss' room. "I love her dearly, but I would be afraid to have a daughter like her," she whispered, causing Peeta to laugh loudly.

"She loves you to you know. I didn't talk with her about it. But Prim told me. You really took such good care of her in 13. Prim would watch how she would cling to you sometimes. It made Prim relieved because you understood Katniss in a way that she couldn't. You saw what she went through here in the Capitol. And she loved you for the way you took care of her," Peeta said. Effie put her hand over her heart.

"I do love her. I love both of you. And I will make sure you both find the life of Victors…but I don't mean Victors of the Games anymore," she whispered. He smiled as Haymitch walked up, and Effie walked away.

"Mics are down," Haymitch told him.

"For how long?" Peeta asked. He heard a loud thunk and Katniss yelled about her heels, making the guy's chuckle.

"For a few hours. I didn't tell her though. I find her lovely and endearing when she's like this," Haymitch joked. "They'll come back on once you guys are fast asleep, so you don't have to worry about them hearing anything in your bed that they shouldn't hear," Haymitch joked. Peeta pushed him.

"Really? We would never do anything like that in the Capitol. Me and Katniss aren't even in that state of mind," Peeta said. Haymitch laughed and shook his head.

"You will be soon. Just be careful. The Districts don't get any form of protection. So, if she gets pregnant, it will ruin everything," Haymitch said. Peeta shook his head in frustration again.

"You do realize that if she hears you talking about her getting pregnant, she's gonna throw something at you and not miss right?" Cinna asked opening Katniss' bedroom door. Peeta and Haymitch froze. They looked in, and saw Katniss walking out of the bathroom.

"I hate those heels. Can I wear something lower?" Katniss asked. She glared at Haymitch as he walked in with Peeta behind him.

"Mics are down for the night," Haymitch said. Her glare left her face, and she visibly relaxed.

"So, we might actually get a civilized dinner tonight." Cinna joked. Peeta chuckled.

"I doubt that will ever happen," Haymitch laughed. Peeta went and sat down next to Katniss on her bed.

"I'll see you for dinner. And you're wearing the heels," Cinna said as he left, dragging Haymitch with him. Katniss and Peeta both sat up against the headboard of her bed.

"I am so exhausted. Even with getting all that sleep. I don't want to do this again," Katniss said. Peeta put his arm around her, and she laid her head on his shoulder.

"I know. But…this whole time, we've never had a choice. And we have to do it all over again. We still don't have a choice…but Katniss, we get to save our family and our friends lives. We get to save a lot of lives by doing this a second time. And we get a chance to right some of the wrong's we made along the way. We can do this," Peeta told her. She nodded her head.

"Why don't we just lay down. They'll come get us for dinner," he told her. She nodded her head and they laid down. He wrapped his body around hers, and she faced away from him. She held tight onto his hands that were wrapped around her. They didn't mean to, but they both fell asleep.

"Well at least I know that with your clothes on you won't get her pregnant," he heard Haymitch say. He opened his eyes, to see he and Katniss hadn't moved, but it was darker. "Wanna have a quick drink with me before dinner?" he asked him. He carefully got out of bed and followed Haymitch down to the hall. Haymitch started pouring him a drink.

"No thanks. I don't like that stuff," Peeta said. Haymitch scoffed.

"A small glass won't kill you. Take it," Haymitch said and shoved it at him. They both sat down on the couch. "I need to know that I can trust you out there tomorrow and, in the Games," Haymitch said.

"You can Haymitch, I'm sorry. I got frustrated, but I shouldn't have thrown the weight ball at them. I'm sorry. I just want to get back at them so badly for everything they've done to us. I just lost my head. You can trust me out there. I can do this," Peeta told him. Haymitch nodded his head.

"I know you will boy...how is your head?" Haymitch asked him. Peeta knew what he meant. He was asking how he was with the hijacking.

"I can still see all those images that they forced on me. They're horrific. But they'll never affect me like they did. I know exactly what the difference is between my memories and the hijacked images. I can see the images of Katniss trying to kill me, and I know without a doubt that it's fake. I don't need to figure out what's real and what isn't. And I don't have any trackerjacker venom in my body anymore," Peeta told him.

"That's good...and how are you about Katniss?" he asked. Peeta just looked at him. "Don't tell me you're not effected by her dying in your arms. Our arms," he said. Peeta nodded his head and took a sip of his wine. He made a face as it went all the way down his throat, leaving a warm sensation.

"It's all I think about. It's exactly what I try not to think about. I was literally screaming for her to stay alive, to hold on, and then I'm in my bedroom above the bakery. I just try not to think about it because it just makes me nauseous," Peeta said. Haymitch nodded his head as Cinna came into the room. Peeta clammed up instantly.

"It's alright, Haymitch already told me what happened," Cinna said sitting down. Peeta glared at Haymitch.

"I needed someone to understand what we're really dealing with. Katniss has been up and down since Prim's name was called. The first time. She's never had a chance to breathe. She's thrown into an arena and forced to fall in love with a boy. Then she goes on the Victory Tour and all hell breaks loose. She's not just fighting for her sister and you; she's fighting for the whole country. And then she's in another arena where she loses you-"

"And she finally realizes she loves you and realizes she can't get out of the arena with both of you alive," Finnick says from the doorway. "Thought I'd stop by. Had some free time," he said, grabbing a drink and sitting down.

"How much did you hear?" Peeta asked. Wondering if he heard the part about Katniss dying in his arms. Finnick just stared at him. "That she died in my arms?" Peeta asked. Finnick nodded. Peeta took a deep breath and sat back in his chair, pinching the bridge of his nose. He felt a headache coming on. One that he wished he could blame on the wine, but knew it wasn't from that.

"I watched her transform in that arena with my own eyes. When you hit the forcefield and she sobbed for your life. That wasn't just a friend she was sobbing for. Those were the sobs that I would cry if that were Annie. That I know Annie cried for me. She fell in love. She was even going to tell you, I'm sure of it. In her own way, one that is completely not normal, but she was. When you came back. But you came back..." Finnick's voice fell.

"I came back hijacked and tried to kill her the second that I saw her," Peeta whispered. Finnick sadly nodded his head.

"So, I want to know what happened to her," Finnick told them, looking at the three of them. "I don't know anything, except I was being ripped apart by those mutts, and then I wake up in my own bed. I thought it was the future. That maybe I survived, and I had been in a coma or something. But Annie came screaming in, begging for Johanna to help her find the baby. And she saw me, and I saw Mags...and it was confusing and scary, and then I find out it's the 74th Reaping day. So, what happened? How did this happen?" Finnick demanded. Peeta and Haymitch stared at each other.

"I'm not just some random person in the group willing to fight for the Rebellion, and not question how we went back in time. You guys are my family. Katniss is my family. And I hear that she died. I want to know how. Why?" he asked. Haymitch put his drink aside.

"I know you know what happened after you died with Coin and the Revolution. They sent Peeta to the Capitol and he was there for five months. They were pumping him full of drugs and doing anything they could to fix his head. But I brought Katniss home...and she wasn't Katniss anymore. She lost everything. Both of you were dead," pointing to Finnick and Cinna.

"Peeta wasn't Peeta, Prim died, and her mother moved, and she pushed Gale away, blaming him for killing Prim," Haymitch said. So, that was why Gale wasn't around. He put his head down. Was she just sorta settling for Peeta because she blamed Gale for her sister getting killed? He couldn't think about that now. He had to stay focused.

"She had no one. I tried to take care of her. Me and Sae, but we couldn't. She wouldn't talk, eat or bathe..." Haymitch trailed off. He snatched up his drink and drank half the glass.

"They released me from the hospital. I just got back to 12, and Haymitch met me at the train station, and I wanted to see her. I wanted to take care of her. And I walked in and she...she..." Peeta choked. He couldn't even say it. He knew Haymitch was in the same boat. He took a deep breath.

"She had slit her wrists with scissors," he whispered. He didn't look up at Finnick when he said it, but he heard him take a sharp breath. Peeta wiped any tears away that threatened to fall. He didn't want to talk about this. To think about it. He tried to distract himself constantly from the image of Katniss dead in his arms.

"She tried to kill herself?" Finnick whispered.

"She didn't try," Peeta said, looking up at him. "She succeeded. She died in my arms," Peeta choked again.

"So, I don't get it. She died. That doesn't explain how we got here," Finnick said.

"Me and Peeta haven't had a real chance to talk about what happened in detail with her," Haymitch said.

"But she was with her dad," Peeta told him. Finnick and Cinna looked at each other.

"Her father died a few years ago, right? In a mining accident," Cinna asked. Peeta nodded.

"Her father said she could have second chance to fix these things. To make it better. And here we are, sitting in the Training Center for the 74th Hunger Games that already happened," Peeta told them.

"Her father? Gave her...all of us a second chance," Finnick said, amazed. It was crazy the first time you heard it. "Everyone's talking about this amazing miracle...and it was Katniss' father," Finnick said, trying to make sense of this. The four men were silent for a few minutes, thinking,

"Is she going to be ok out there?" Finnick asked.

"That's what we were talking about. She has mood swings every day. One day you think she can do this, and then the next she's crying. She's constantly crying," Haymitch said.

"Panem expects too much from her. A person can only handle so much. Look what happened. And now we're asking her to do the whole thing over again? Go into the Arena two more times," Cinna said, shaking his head.

"We just have to let her know we trust her. That we have faith in her. That we know she can do this," Finnick said.

"Now you sound like the boy over here," Haymitch said. Finnick went to retort back, but a blood curdling scream from Katniss' room made them all freeze. They instantly jumped and went running for her room. When they got to her room, Katniss was standing on the bed, screaming.

"Katniss what happened?" Peeta asked frantically. She stared at him, and then at Cinna and Finnick. She started crying and shaking her head and pointing at them.

"No, no, no, no. You're supposed to be dead. You died," she cried and frantically looked around. "What am I doing here? Why am I back here?" she cried. Peeta walked closer to her, and she screamed, covering her face, and falling down onto the bed.

"No, no, no, no," Katniss cried.

"Katniss please calm down-" Peeta tried to say, but she looked up suddenly at him.

"You're trying to kill me. Snow hijacked you. You're not Peeta anymore!" she cried, and crawled over and grabbed the lamp, throwing it in Peeta's direction. Peeta ducked, but it hit Finnick in the stomach. He started coughing from the hit to the gut.

"Katniss no it's me. It's Peeta. I'm ok," he spoke calmly to her, slowly walking to her, holding his hands in front of him.

"Sweetheart it's ok. Just calm down," Haymitch said.

"No, no please make it stop. I tried to make this all stop," Katniss cried, rocking herself back and forth, trying to cover her face again.

"Get a sedative," Haymitch said.

"No please don't do that to her Haymitch. I can get her to calm down," Peeta begged him. Haymitch stared at him sadly.

"This isn't the first time I've seen her act like this. When I brought her home...she had these episodes all the time. Calling for Prim and Finnick...and you," Haymitch said sadly. Peeta looked back at Katniss rocking back and forth, muttering to herself. He turned back to Haymitch. He had never told him this.

"I never could get her to calm down. I had to fight to get close enough to her to stick her with a syringe. It's not fun for me, but it's the only way to calm her down. She's not in her right mind right now," Haymitch said.

"But I wasn't ever there. I can try and get through to her Haymitch. I can make her hear my voice and see reason," Peeta pleaded with him.

"If you can then go for it. But if Katniss doesn't get through this episode...I don't know what we're gonna do…but if she doesn't get through this, we can kiss the Rebellion goodbye. The Rebellion will have to find some other way to start the Revolution without her," Haymitch said sadly.

"They can't just do that. She's the freaken Mockingjay. She's the Mockingjay because she brought that stupid pin into the arena and found a Mockingjay with Rue and did her whistle. You can't just erase her from history," Finnick said.

"Why not? It hasn't happened yet," Haymitch said. Peeta, Finnick and Cinna just stared at him. Peeta realized that if Katniss didn't fight in that arena, not only will she die…but he'll die as well.

"Now do you understand why I keep drilling you with the plan, over and over again? I do it for her. I do it for you because I'll be damned if I lose you both," he choked out. Katniss' sobbing brought him back to the task at hand, and he got on the bed and crawled to her.

"Katniss please," he whispered. She cried and shook her head. Peeta grabbed her and pulled her to him as she struggled. "It's me Katniss. It's Peeta. I'm right here. Listen to my voice. I have you. I'm not hijacked, I'm right here Katniss. Shhh," he spoke to her, rocking her.

"They're all dead because of me," Katniss cried.

"No, they're not Katniss. Cinna and Finnick are right here. They're right here Katniss," Peeta said, looking them. Finnick sat down.

"I'm right here Katniss. And I'm ok. You saved me," Finnick said, putting his hand on her back. She sobbed in Peeta's arms.

"Katniss you're safe here. It's just you, Peeta, me, Haymitch and Finnick. We're all alive, and you're safe in this room with us." Cinna spoke to her.

"You're supposed to be dead," Katniss cried, gripping onto Peeta tightly.

"I know we are. But you saved us," Finnick told her.

"Don't you remember you saw your father Katniss?" Peeta asked. Her crying started to lessen. "Your dad remember? You saw him, and he hugged you. And he said you were getting a second chance," Peeta told her. Katniss was starting to listen to them, so he kept talking.

"You were there with him. Where were you Katniss? Where did you see him?" Peeta asked. They waited for a few minutes for her to answer.

"He was in the woods," Katniss said. The four men all looked at each other. Peeta nodded his head.

"That's right you were in the woods. And what did your dad tell you?" Peeta coaxed. Katniss sat up and looked at him. Tears were falling down her face. She was so scared and lost. This is what two arenas and war has done to her. She was broken. And she was expected to go back in and do it all over again. He wanted to protect her, and he hadn't once been able to since they were Reaped the first time. And he couldn't stop what was about to happen.

"He said I was meant to be the Mockingjay. Because I have goodness in me," she whispered. But they had all heard it. He believed that about her. She had so much goodness in her. She just didn't see herself the way that he did. The way that her friends and family did. The way all of Panem did. He held her face in his hands.

"You do have goodness in you Katniss. So much. Your father was right," he said. Finnick laid a hand on her back again and she looked over at him. Then at Cinna and Haymitch.

"What's wrong with me? I've never been like this before. One minute I'm fine," Katniss said, looking down at the bed. "I feel like I can kill Snow easily. But then I fall asleep and... what if I can't do this?" she said sadly.

"You can do this. We believe in you. Everyone does," Finnick said.

"Prim, your mom. They believe in you Katniss," Cinna said. Katniss looked up at Haymitch. They knew what she was asking him by the look on her face. She was asking him if he believed in her.

"Of course, I do sweetheart. But no one in this room was with you the last five months. Peeta was just there when it all ended," Haymitch said. Katniss' eyes went to Finnick. He just smiled at her, letting her know that he already knew what happened.

"I'm scared for you. You're not yourself. And I'm worried that I won't be able to help you once you're in there. I'm afraid of what these past two years have done to you. And I'm scared to death that I'm going to lose you both," Haymitch said, sitting on the bed sighing.

"I want to be able to do this. I do. But I'm tired," Katniss said. Peeta pulled her to his chest.

"I know you are. We all are. I wish I could change it," Peeta told her.

"This is the last night we're really going to be able to speak. The rest will have to be in code from now on," Haymitch said. They all nodded. Peeta had an idea. He pulled Katniss away to look at him.

"When you're in the arena, we won't be able to hear Haymitch. We already know what's going to happen. Don't think about the end. That you have to make sure you have enough arrows to shoot at the mutts. That you make sure you hit Marvel. That you climb the right tree. Stop thinking far ahead. Concentrate only on what's next. When you first get there, only concentrate on getting your pack, the plastic, and that knife from Clove. Once it's done, concentrate on finding a tree to sleep in. Then I'll walk under you that night. Then a few days later when the fire happens. Then running to the river. Then finding a tree to hide in from the Careers. Take it one step at a time. You can do that. And if you do that, we'll be out of there before you know it," Peeta said. Finnick held her hand.

"I'll be watching the whole time cheering you on. We all will. And so will Prim and your mom. Even Mags and Annie are at home cheering for you. And Johanna's somewhere around here wishing you luck to and yelling about how you could do so much better," he said, making her smile. "You can do this. And we'll be waiting for you," Finnick said. Katniss started crying again.

"You never met your son," Katniss whispered.

"But now I'll see him. I'll be there to hold him and raise him. You made that possible for me. And everything I did, I did it for him. For Annie and him, for all of us. I don't regret it. And I never blamed you. You have to stop blaming yourself for my death," Finnick said.

"And mine. Because I chose to turn that wedding dress into the Mockingjay. And I knew the consequences. I just wish I didn't have to pay it in front of you. That is my only regret. And I would make that choice again if I was told I would still die. I would never change anything that I did!" Cinna said.

"How do I just let that go?" Katniss said. Finnick smiled.

"By getting through the Games. Get through it, and you'll start to heal. I promise you Katniss," Finnick said.

"You better be getting back. You've been gone an awful long time," Haymitch said. Finnick nodded, and kissed Katniss on the cheek and rested his forehead against hers.

"I won't see you again before the Games. But I'm confident in you. Make me proud Katniss," Finnick told her and gave her a hug. He looked at Peeta. "Be careful out there won't you," he said. Peeta laughed.

"Don't you know I get stabbed in the leg with a sword and then a mutt tries to eat my leg off? I don't really know how to be careful," Peeta joked. Finnick slapped his shoulder and he got off the bed.

"I don't even know if I'll see you after the Games, so I hope to see you on your Victory Tour. I'll sneak you onto the beach," he told them. And then he quietly left. They sat there for a few minutes in silence.

"Come on Katniss. Let me do your makeup for dinner. Effie can't have you coming to the dinner table without looking like a million bucks," Cinna said, and helped her off the bed and into the bathroom. Haymitch stared at Peeta.

"What were you thinking taking a nap without the sleeping pills?" Haymitch demanded.

"I'm sorry I wasn't thinking," Peeta said sheepishly, putting is head down.

"Funny I figured that out on my own," Haymitch said. He followed Haymitch out into the living room. Haymitch grabbed a glass and threw it at the wall, and then spun back around.

"The last time the rebels saw Katniss, she was out of her mind. She shot an arrow at Coin instead of Snow. She was mentally incompetent. I had to hide the fact that she couldn't even feed herself because they would take her away. She's still that same girl to them. Who fell apart when you came back hijacked. They see her here crying and not able to be pull herself together. We'll all watch her die in that arena and we'll have to find some new way to start the Revolution if we can't convince her that she can do this. I need you both to do this because I can't go back home without you two," Haymitch said. Peeta knew how hard this was for him. Him and Katniss were the only family that Haymitch had. We were all that he had in this world.

"I can do this Haymitch. And so can Katniss. Once she's there, she'll get through it. We both will. And you'll be bringing us home. I promise Haymitch," Peeta said. He was worried that he couldn't keep that promise to his mentor.

"Feeling better?" Peeta asked Katniss when she sat at the dinner table. She had just taken a shower, and her hair was still wet. But Cinna put a little makeup on her to brighten her face.

She nodded her head, and Haymitch passed her a glass of wine. Peeta glared at him.

"Do you really think that's such a great idea?" Peeta asked sarcastically. Before Haymitch could answer, Katniss grabbed the glass and drank the whole thing. Peeta, and everyone else, just stared at her, open mouthed.

"I have something to say," Katniss said. She looked down at the table. Peeta felt it. This wasn't good, whatever she was about to say. "I had a nightmare," Katniss said.

"We already knew that" Haymitch said. Katniss shook her head.

"These nightmares...they don't leave me. They follow me wherever I go," Katniss said. Peeta watched as a tear fell into her lap. "This was a mistake," she whispered. She looked up at Haymitch.

"I shouldn't have been sent back here. I never should have been given this second chance, because I can't do this. I'm not strong enough. I'm too weak. My father was wrong," Katniss choked out. Peeta put his arm on her back.

"Katniss please-" Peeta tried to say, but she jerked away. She stood up and faced them.

"You promised me you would save him. And you broke that promise," Katniss said to Haymitch. Peeta jerked his face over to Haymitch. Oh God. He knew where this was going. "So, keep it now. Save him Haymitch. Let me die in there," Katniss gritted through her teeth. Peeta pushed his chair away from him.

"Katniss stop this," Peeta said. He tried to walk over to her, but she grabbed a steak knife and held it out in front of her. Effie and Portia gasped.

"Katniss calm down," Cinna said, standing up and walking towards her. She held the knife towards him. Then she looked at Haymitch.

"You let me die in there you bastard. Bring him home. He never should have been in the arena. Bring him home to his family. I want to die. If I die, nothing bad will happen. Prim will stay alive," Katniss cried. She looked over to Cinna and Portia.

"Both of you will be alive. Finnick, Mags, Wiress. None of them will be sent into the arena. You let this end. Stop this now. Let me die in there and move on. You're better off without me," Katniss desperately choked out. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

He looked to Haymitch, but his face puzzled Peeta. He wasn't surprised by anything Katniss was saying. It was like he knew she would do this. But then it really came to Peeta. He had seen Katniss like this before. This wasn't foreign to Haymitch, this broken version of Katniss. He looked back to her, and Katniss moved the knife to her throat.

"Katniss STOP IT!" Peeta yelled. But she never looked away from Haymitch.

"You promise me you bastard, or I will cut myself right now. I will end it all right here," Katniss said.

"Katniss please stop it," Peeta cried out. Haymitch slammed his hand on the table and stood up, pointing threateningly at Katniss.

"DON'T YOU THREATEN ME! YOU ARE NOT BLEEDING TO DEATH IN FRONT OF ME AGAIN!" Haymitch yelled at her. But Katniss just stood there sobbing, with the knife to her throat.

"Just let me die. Why can't you just let me die," Katniss cried.

"Because I have worked too hard to just let you die. I promised your damn mother," Haymitch said. He shook his head. "I'm not gonna stand here and let you kill yourself in front of me. If you wanna kill yourself, I won't watch that again," Haymitch said. He walked right past her, and down the hall to his room. Peeta and Cinna just looked at each other, and back to Katniss, who still held the knife to her throat.

"Katniss please-" Peeta pleaded with her, holding his hand out for the knife.

"You go back home and forget about me," Katniss gritted out, not looking at him.

"You forget everything about me. You marry a girl who deserves you. Who will love you back the way you deserve! You go home and erase me from your memory," Katniss cried, dropping the knife to the floor. Peeta was so stunned by her statement, that he realized too late that she ran down the hall. He tried to catch up to her, but she locked herself in her room. He heard her sobbing through the door as he pounded on it.

"KATNISS LET ME IN! OPEN THE DOOR!" He pounded and pounded. But she never answered the door. Eventually he stopped knocking and slid down to lean against the door. "Please don't do this," Peeta cried out.

He didn't know how long he sat outside her door. Her sobs had gone away, but he didn't even know if she was sleeping. Cinna eventually came and got him, putting a finger to his lips. Letting him know the mics were back on. He helped him to his room.

"I'm sorry Peeta," Cinna said. He gave him the sleeping pills, but Peeta just looked at them, then back at him. "I'll slip some through her door. I'll make sure she takes them. Just get some rest." He gladly took the pills. He wanted to stop thinking about what just happened.

Katniss gave up. She wasn't going to fight. She was going to die in these Games, and he knew there was nothing he could do to stop it, because Katniss wasn't going to fight. He laid in his bed sobbing, until sleep took the pain away.

He woke up rested, but felt awful. He could tell by the way the sun was set, that he slept into the afternoon. He laid there a bit longer. He knew he had to get up and get ready for his interview. But he just didn't care anymore. If she wasn't going to fight, then neither was he. He was going to die in that arena tomorrow.

God, was it only 24 hours away? Not even 24 hours away. Was he really ready to die? He had been in the other arenas, but this was different. He wasn't even going to try. He tried not to imagine how she would die. She'd probably not get off her pillar when the bell rang. She'll probably just let Clove run over to her and stab her. He hated that thought. He would run over to her. Hug her. Whisper that he loves her, and let Clove kill them together. She wouldn't die alone. They'll die together.

He didn't even realize he was crying again, until Portia came in. He sat up, wiping his face. She sat down on the bed, smiling sadly to him.

"Come on my baker boy. We have some work to do," she said, and held his hand. He nodded to her. She touched his cheek and brought his head towards hers. She put her forehead against his.

"I told you last time that I'd bet you win. And both times I was right. And betting now would be cheating. So, I'll bet you that she'll do this. She'll come through. Don't lose faith just yet," Portia whispered.

Peeta picked up his head and stared at her sadly. He just shook his head. Katniss wouldn't come through. She was done.

His prep team worked on him, while he ignored them. While he was sitting in the chair, he saw Portia go to the door, and whisper to Haymitch, Cinna and Effie. They looked worried. Then he noticed that Finnick was with them again. They looked at him, and then back to each other. He didn't even have the heart to ask. Katniss must not be doing well. He got up and walked over to him.

"What is it?" Peeta asked. They all stared at him, then to Haymitch. He looked pale. And scared.

"She's just staring at the wall. Like she did before," Haymitch said. She was back inside herself. Last time when she was in that place, she killed herself. Well, less than 24 hours from now, she will be letting herself die. Peeta let tears fall down his face.

"So that's it? Me and her die tomorrow?" Peeta said. Portia let out a sob and hugged Peeta. Peeta looked at Haymitch and saw him crying. Cinna put his hand on Haymitch's shoulder, and Haymitch just shook his head angrily.

"After all everyone did. After all she went through to get back here, I just lose. We all lose. We had freedom for 5 minutes, and now it's gone. And I'm expected to just go home without you two," Haymitch cried. Finnick grabbed and pulled him towards him in a hug as Haymitch cried. Peeta shook as he watched Haymitch finally unravel.

"Don't give up yet Haymitch. The Games haven't even started. She'll come through. I know she will. She always comes through," Finnick said. Haymitch pulled away, turning around. Finnick followed him.

"I better get back to her," Cinna said sadly. Portia tried to get him to eat, but he couldn't. As soon as the bell rang, he'd run to her. Hold her. Kiss her. Look into her eyes and tell her he loved her. And he would hold her when they died. He would at least be with Katniss this time.

And his family would be alive. Prim will be alive. Cinna, Portia, Finnick. They'll all be alive. Maybe Katniss was right. If they died tomorrow, nothing bad will happen. The Hunger Games will still go on. But at least their family and friends would be alive. He didn't realize how fast time was going by. It was time to go to the interviews. He waited by the elevator with Portia, Haymitch and Effie, for Katniss and Cinna.

She was beautiful in her makeup and dress. But he was devastated by the look she had on her face. There was no more of the girl he loved. She was gone. The light was gone from her eyes. He closed his eyes and willed himself not to die right there. Haymitch wouldn't even look at her. Effie grabbed Katniss' other arm as they all entered the elevator. Silence. It was the longest elevator ride. They stepped off the elevator and started walking down the hall.

Peeta looked up and saw some woman walking towards them. More like stalking. He saw two people behind her, chasing her. He realized it was Finnick…and Blight. Then he realized who the girl was. It was Johanna. As she quickly approached, he realized Finnick, and Blight were begging her to stop. But Johanna wasn't listening.

She stalked right up to us, reached over, and grabbed Katniss by the arm before anyone could protest. Everyone followed her as she dragged Katniss into a room and shut the door, as she stood Katniss in the middle of the room.

"The damn Capitol don't have mics in this room. Which is perfect for us," she said. Then Johanna did something that stunned them all. She raised her hand and slapped Katniss across the face. Peeta ran at Johanna and grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her.

"What do you think you're doing? Don't hit her! You can't hit her!" Peeta frantically told her. She pushed him away and looked at Katniss. She was holding her cheek and breathing heavily. She stared at Johanna.

"Mad, are you? Pissed at me for slapping you?" Johanna asked. She walked forward and pushed Katniss backwards. Peeta went to lunge at her, but Finnick pulled him backwards. "Mad at me for pushing you?" Johanna asked, pushing her again.

"Come on say something. Fight back you coward," she said, pushing her again, backing her into the wall.

"Don't just lay there and die. What's your sister and mother going to do when you don't come home? They'll starve because Gale won't be able to bring them game because he's working all the time. They're going to starve. And what are you gonna do for the next six years that Prim's name goes into the Reaping? Because she will get Reaped again. What are you gonna do when she still gets into the arena and Haymitch can't get her out huh? What are you gonna do? Just lay on the ground sucking your thumb like a baby? You're gonna let Prim die? You're gonna let baby Finn die? Because he'll never have a chance to be born now because Finnick and Annie won't be allowed to get married," Johanna said.

Katniss' back hit the wall, and Johanna put her hands on Katniss' throat. "No one will have freedom, because you were too much of a damn chicken to fight back. You're gonna let Snow win. Is that what you want? For Snow to still kill your precious sister? Because Prim! Will! DIE!" Johanna said.

Katniss screamed and pushed Johanna backwards till she fell back on the floor. Katniss went to lunge at her, but Cinna was too quick to grab her. Johanna stood back up and got in her face. Why was no one stopping this? She grabbed her chin and held it tightly. Katniss struggled against Cinna.

"Snow will win. Is that what you want? Snow will win. SNOW WILL WIN!" Johanna yelled.

"HE WON'T WIN BECAUSE I'M GOING TO KILL HIM!" Katniss screamed. Everyone was silent. No one moved. Except Johanna. She just laughed.

"Oh really? How are you going to do that? You're planning on dying tomorrow at the Cornucopia, aren't you? You plan on just letting them kill you. That's letting Snow win. That's not killing him," Johanna said.

"I'm going to execute him," Katniss hissed. Johanna laughed.

"How are you going to do that Brainless? You're planning on letting yourself die out there tomorrow. You think Peeta's gonna fight to stay alive? You're a moron. He's planning on dying with you. And you're sending Haymitch home alone. He's been alone for 24 years. You're his family. You're like his daughter. You're taking away his family. And the selfish bitch that you are, killed yourself while he tried to take care of you. Now you're going to just die right now, taking his daughter and his son away. So, tell me again how you plan on killing Snow because-"

"BECAUSE I'M GOING TO FIGHT!" Katniss screamed. No one said a word. He watched as Katniss stayed perfectly still. She stared back at Johanna. There was light back in her eyes. "Because I'm going to go out there and be The Girl on Fire. I'm going into that arena tomorrow and I'm going to fight. And then I'm coming back here again in a year to fight in the arena again. And then, the next time I'm in the Capitol, it's to kill Snow. But not before I tell him that I've won. Because this time, I won't shoot the arrow at Coin. This time, I will be the one to execute him," she said evenly.

It was the calmest he had heard Katniss speak. All the other times she declared herself, she had no confidence. This was different. His Katniss was back. The fighter was back. Finnick let go of Peeta. Johanna smiled.

"Good. Because I'm counting on you Brainless. So is everyone else," she said and looked around at everyone. "I hope the next time you'll tell me what's going on with Katniss sooner. I know how to get through to her," she told them, then she turned back to Katniss and leaned in.

"Make him pay for it. Starting right now," she said. Katniss smiled back. Johanna turned, and grabbed Finnick's hand, pulling him out of the room. Blight shook his head and followed them.

"Katniss are you alright?" Cinna asked. Katniss turned to him and nodded.

"Yes. I can do this," Katniss said. Haymitch huffed.

"I've heard this before. I'll believe it when I see it. I'm going to take my seat," Haymitch said. He didn't believe her. And could Peeta really blame him?

"Come along you two," Effie said, not giving him and Katniss a chance to talk. They got in line and sat in their seats.

Had Johanna really just gotten through to Katniss? When no one else had. He didn't even listen to the other 22 tributes in their interviews. He was too nervous to see Katniss. He watched her as she rose from her seat gracefully, and confident, and walked to the stage. He watched her closely as she changed, and nervously walked out on stage.

She remembered her first time walking out onto this stage, versus the second time. She was more nervous the first time, and just angry the second. But she felt like the feelings from the first time were rushing back at her. Caesar asked her a question, and it was just a blur.

"What?" she asked him. They all chuckled laughed.

"Now my dear don't be nervous," Caesar said and squeezed her hand. "I was talking about the Tribute Parade. You and Mr. Mellark made quite an entrance. What were you thinking? What was going through your mind?" Caesar asked excitedly. She did it before she thought about it, she looked over at Cinna. He and Portia decided to not sit with the other stylists, but sit with Haymitch, and now Effie. He smiled at her.

"I was just hoping I wouldn't burn to death," she said, making everyone laugh. "I hoped to at least make it to the arena," she joked, causing more laughter.

"What's the point of the Hunger Games if I burn to death in the Tribute Parade," the crowd couldn't stop laughing. Not only was Cinna smiling, but Haymitch, Effie and Portia were ecstatic.

She looked to the row behind them. Finnick, Johanna, Beetee, Chaff, Seeder, Marlah and Blight were all sitting there. Finnick had the biggest smile on his face. She could do this!

"Now, when you and Peeta came out of the chariot, I have to say. My heart stopped," Caesar said, and looked to the audience. "Did any of you experience this?" he asked the audience and then turned back to me.

"So did mine," she said as everyone laughed. "But then, it's actually a lot of fun to wear the flames. Cinna and Portia had to force Peeta and I out of our suits that night. I have to admit, we were running around the Penthouse in them," she said. She watched Finnick's face light up and look at Johanna.

"Wait a minute. You and Peeta? Were running around the Penthouse, with the fire following you?" Caesar asked. She nodded her head. The audience wouldn't settle down, they were laughing so hard.

"We kind of couldn't help it Caesar. When are we ever going to wear costumes like that again? Well, when is Peeta going to? I'm wearing them again tonight," she said. The audience gasped and settled back down. Waiting for more.

"Wait, wait, wait. You're wearing the fire again tonight? Is this even safe?" he asked. She giggled and nodded her head.

"Of course it is. Would you like to see them?" she asked. She stood up and took a deep breath and faltered for a minute.

"Alright Cinna, I'm sorry," Katniss said and bent down and took off her heels. The crowd burst out laughing and she held them up. Cinna was smiling brightly and just shook his head. "There is no way I can spin in these heels," she said and tossed them to Caesar.

She stood and looked to her left and saw Peeta off stage. He smiled at her, and she started spinning. She tried to spin longer but Caesar had to catch her and help sit her down. The crowd was all over the place and took Caesar a while to get the crowd to settle down.

"That was beautiful. Thank you for that. That was something special, thank you Katniss. Now I have one more question for you. And it's about your sister," he said. He leaned forward and held her hand between his. She stiffened. She knew it was coming, but she hated talking about Prim with this horrible people.

"Now, I think we were all moved when you volunteered for your sister at the Reaping. What was going through your mind?" he asked. She gulped.

"That she doesn't know how to climb a tree," she whispered before she could think of any other response. She was tired of giving the Capitol so much of her. There was some laughter, but not as much.

"She doesn't like being dirty. She doesn't like the outdoors. So, I figured, she'd really hate the arena," she told him. There were awes all over the audience. "But I told her when she came to see me, that I would try and win. That I would try and win for her," she admitted truthfully.

"And try you will," Caesar said and kissed her hand.

For the first time that day, Peeta smiled. It had been the worst 24 hours of his life. He thought Katniss had given up. But she pulled through. She was gonna make it. Before he knew it, she was leaving the stage, and stopped next to him, brushing her hand against his. She smiled at him.

"I'm sorry about last night," she told him. He smiled and shook his head.

"I don't care. I'll always follow you wherever you go Katniss," Peeta told her, and then he entered the stage. He joked with Caesar, just like the last time.

"Do I smell like roses to you?" Peeta asked. Katniss chuckled as the smelled each other. "Now Caesar, I do have one request. If I win the Hunger Games, can I please request that my new house come with one of these showers?" Peeta asked. The audience laughed.

"Well, I don't see why not. I mean we can do that for him can't we folks? As a present from us to him, as the Victor?" Caesar asked. The audience cheered. "Peeta tell me about this running around with Katniss in your costumes," Caesar said. Peeta laughed.

"Well, the fire was amazing. I've never seen anything like it before. And we just looked at each other and just took off running. Effie was pretty mad at us because we were jumping over the furniture and knocking things over and completely destroying everything in our wake," he said. The audience went berserk with laughter.

"Oh, poor Effie," Caesar cried. The camera panned over to Effie, who Peeta had to give her credit at how quick she reacted. She crossed her arms, pursed her lips and glared at him. Haymitch pretended to block her face.

"Now Peeta. Tell me. Someone as charming and handsome as you. You must have a girlfriend back home. Tell us about her," he cheered. Peeta smiled.

"Well, no I don't. But there's this girl from home. Who I've had a crush on forever,"

"Aaah see. Tell us about her,"

"Well…I don't think she actually recognized me till the Reaping,"

"Oh no. Well, you know what Peeta. You go out and you win this. You win this, and when you get home, she'll have to go with you. Right folks?" he asked. Everyone was cheering. "I mean I can go and be a chaperone on their first date," he joked.

"Thank you…but I don't think winning the Hunger Games is gonna help me at all," Peeta said sadly.

"And why not?" Caesar asked. Peeta took a deep breath.

"Because she came here with me," Peeta said. The crowd gasped and Peeta looked like he would start crying.

"Well, that's just bad luck," Caesar said as Peeta nodded his head in agreement but decided to up the ante.

"It really is. I just regret that I could never work up the nerve to talk to her. Because now we're here, and only one person is going home. I just hope that it's her," Peeta said. The audience was practically bawling.

"Well, I don't blame you. How could you not fall for that girl? And Katniss never knew you had a crush on her?" he asked. Peeta shook his head.

"Well, she does now since I just blurted that out," Peeta said, scratching the back of his head nervously.

"What do you think? Should we bring her back out here folks and get her response?" he asked the audience, and they went wild. "Oh, sadly the rules are rules. And Katniss Everdeen's time is up. But what I wouldn't give to listen to that conversation that is going to take place tonight," Caesar said as they laughed. He looked back at Peeta.

"But we'll be watching the both of you. And I speak for all of Panem when I say, our hearts are with you both!" He smiled as he was dismissed, and he walked by Katniss. They couldn't let people think they were already a couple. Effie escorted them to the elevator, where Finnick, Johanna and Blight got on with their tributes.

"Seriously we should have put you on fire. Maybe then I'd remember your name," Johanna said to her female tribute. Finnick laughed. What an awful thing to say. She turned and looked at Katniss. "Way to go Girl on Fire. You just might win this whole damn thing," she said, turning back to face the front.

"Now Johanna is that any way to speak to the competition?" Finnick asked her. Johanna laughed. The doors opened, and Finnick led his tributes out. He turned really quick and looked at them.

"I wish you all luck. The very best of luck, from the bottom of my heart," Finnick said, smiling at Peeta and Katniss. He held his hand up to his heart, staring at Katniss as the doors closed. A few moments later, the doors opened again, and Johanna pushed her tributes out, and then turned again.

"I'm proud of you. Just remember who the real enemy is Brainless," Johanna said. Katniss smiled.

"Thank you," Katniss said as the doors closed. A moment later, they opened on their own floor. Haymitch was standing there. No one moved.

"Are you really there? Are you really with it and ready to work? Did I just see the Girl on Fire and the Mockingjay up there?" Haymitch asked. They stepped off the elevator and she stood in front of him.

"I'm not The Girl on Fire, or the Mockingjay. I'm just Katniss Everdeen. But I want to make Snow pay for everything he's ever done. And may the odds be ever in our favor," Katniss said. Haymitch smiled and hugged her.

"You gotta stop putting me through this. Just do this thing already. I've lived too many lifetimes worrying about you sweetheart," Haymitch told her. Katniss pulled back.

"I'm sorry Haymitch. I'm sorry for everything I've put you through. What I keep putting you through. But you watch tomorrow. I can do this. You'll see," Katniss said. He nodded his head.

"You remember who the real enemy is. It's not the other tributes. It's always been him. You remember that. And you think of Prim at home waiting for you. And you think of this boy right here," he said, pointing to Peeta.

"You make it out of there together," Haymitch said. Katniss nodded and he hugged her again. "This is where I leave you. Get to bed. Just know that I'm watching. And I'll be here when you get out," Haymitch said. She nodded and pulled away. Haymitch turned to Peeta and yanked him into a hug.

"I know I don't have to worry about you. Just stay alive long enough for me to get you home, with both legs," Haymitch said and pulled back. Effie hugged her tightly.

"I hate seeing you go through this again. And I know I'm not your sister, or Peeta," she pulled back and she squeezed Katniss' hand and put it over Effie's heart. "But if you need something to think about, you can think of me. Because I am cheering you on. You and Peeta have my heart out there," Effie whispered to her. Katniss jumped and hugged her tightly.

She hugged Peeta, and then her and Haymitch left. Portia and Cinna said their goodbyes for the night, and Katniss followed Peeta to his room.