"Wanna come run a few errands with me?" Katniss asked Prim one day. She smiled and nodded. "Peeta's at the Bakery and I'm sure he'll make you something," Katniss said. Prim clapped her hands as they started walking.

"Can I ask you a question? "Prim asked. Katniss nodded. She looked uncomfortable.

"What is it?" she asked. Prim cleared her throat.

"Are you and Peeta…" Prim's voice trailed off. Katniss just looked at her. "I saw his underwear in your drawer," Prim said. Katniss stopped and stared at her. A memory of the day she hurt her ankle came back into her head. Prim went upstairs to get her clothes and came back flushed. Peeta and her not batting an eye when she sat in just a shirt and underwear. Katniss realizing Prim saw his boxer shorts.

"It's ok if you are. You don't have to hide it from me. You're in love…I just…I just want you to be safe," Prim said and started walking.

Katniss and Prim walked in silence. Katniss was so embarrassed. How could she sit there and tell Prim, no we don't have sex. But we rub against each other until they have orgasms. And the reason why they keep underwear at each other's houses is so after they have their orgasms, they can change into something dry. Yeah, that would go over so easy.

Katniss cleared her throat. "We don't go far enough that anyone has to worry about us being safe…that's never happened," Katniss admitted. Prim looked at her and smiled, and then she chuckled and wrapped her arm around Katniss' arm.

"You don't have to be embarrassed in front of me. I'm just glad you're safe. And I'm glad that you're happy," Prim said. Katniss smiled and rolled her eyes.

They went to a few different shops and were walking by one of the alley's when Katniss heard some giggling.

"Please tell us already Letty. Who is the mystery boyfriend? We're dying to know?" a girl asked. Katniss rolled her eyes. Letty, Colleen and Marla were back.

"Is that Letty the girl…" Prim made a face. God, even she knew Letty was a whore. Katniss nodded her head.

"Alright. But you have to swear to secrecy. Because the only reason that we're still together is because we've kept it a secret. He's engaged. And we just want to make these last few months count. So, you can't tell another living soul," Letty said. The girls must have agreed.

"It's Peeta Mellark," Letty said. Both Katniss and Prim's eyes widened, and they stared at each other. Prim tried not to laugh.

"Why don't we pass by the Bakery and let you wave," Colleen said. Katniss grabbed Prim and they went until there was a big garbage bin, and next to it a big crate sitting up against the wall.

"Oh, I have an idea," Katniss said. The dumpster was blocking Katniss and Prim from view so Letty wouldn't see them until they were standing in front of Katniss. They heard the girls laughing as they approached.

"Hi Letty," Katniss said, startling the three girls. Katniss just smiled.

"Oh…Katniss. Hi. How are you?" Letty asked, a little unsure.

"Oh, I'm good," Katniss said sweetly.

"That's good. I'm really sorry to hear about the Quell. That's really awful," Letty said. Katniss at least could admit, Letty was sincere in that. No one in 12 wanted Katniss and Peeta to go back into the arena. No one wanted Snow to win.

"Thank you, I appreciate that," she said nicely, and then went right back to her fake voice. "Prim and I were just going to the Bakery for some cake. How about you join us. The more the merrier," Katniss said as her and Prim hopped down from the crate.

"Oh well," she stuttered

"We'd love to!" Marla said.

"Splendid. Come on," Katniss said, leading the way. She walked into the Bakery and saw Ryee. "Is Peeta back there?" Katniss asked. He looked over at Letty and kinda cringed.

"Yeah. Peeta, your fiancé is here. And you got some groupies to," Ryee said. Prim put her hands on her hips.

"I'm not a groupie," Prim said. He pinched her cheek.

"Not a chance. Wanna pick out a cookie?" he asked, and she nodded her head and walked behind the counter with him.

"Would you grab me that chocolate cake?" Katniss asked. Ryee nodded and pulled it out and placed it on the counter. Peeta came out, wiping his hands from flour on his apron and he smiled brightly at her.

"Hey, this is a nice surprise," he said and kissed her. "What are you doing here today?" Peeta asked.

"Well, I just ran into Letty," Katniss said. Peeta looked up, and Letty was standing there awkwardly. "I just heard the funniest thing. Apparently, you and her are secretly seeing each other," Katniss said. Letty's face went ashen white.

"Woah! That I did NOT see coming," Ryee said.

"Remember in the alley when she was telling her friends that the hickeys came from some guy that did every single thing imaginable to her? Well, apparently that was you," Katniss said, crossing her arms. Peeta raised his eyebrow.

"How…how did you know about that?" Letty asked.

"We were in the alley. We were hiding. And you came out telling these girls such a great tale of what you were doing that day, when Peeta and I were together all day long. So, I don't really know HOW you were able to do anything with him, when I was with him," Katniss said, and smiled her fake Capitol smile.

"Letty I…I don't want to hurt your feelings. But I'm in love with Katniss. And I wouldn't do anything with any other girl. Ever," Peeta said gently. Katniss scoffed.

"So now you can tell your friends who you were really with. Because it wasn't Peeta Mellark!" Katniss said. Letty finally got ahold of herself and crossed her arms.

"My relationship has nothing to do with you Katniss," Letty said, trying to uphold her dignity in front of her friends. Well, Katniss could take care of that. She reached over and grabbed the cake and threw it at Letty's face. Katniss stood by and smiled.

"I believe you wanted some chocolate cake. Well, now you have some. Maybe bring some to Cray. Ask him if he likes chocolate to," Katniss said.

"Oh, he actually does love chocolate. He comes in here for chocolate cupcakes all the time," Ryee said. Peeta glared at him.

"How could you do this?" Letty screamed.

"Because you are talking about sleeping with Peeta. And no one in this world gets to talk like that about him," Katniss said. Letty stormed out, with her friends following her. Peeta had his head down, shaking his head. Trying not to laugh.

"That was terrible," Peeta chuckled. Katniss shrugged.

"Come on Katniss. I worked hard on that cake today," Ryee complained.

One day Katniss came downstairs and could hear Prim laughing. She looked outside and saw that Peeta and Ryee were outside with her and they were hanging up a tire swing. "KATNISS LOOK!" Prim yelled. Katniss came out and looked at it.

"That's so cool," Katniss said, looking up at it. They spent about an hour pushing Prim around on it. Ryee went back to the Bakery, Prim went inside to do homework. So, it was just Peeta and Katniss. They laid on the big tire and just swung lightly.

"Are you sleeping?" Peeta asked.

"A little. Prim's been sleeping with me a lot. But I hate waking her up with my nightmares," Katniss said. She turned and looked at him.

"It's getting harder to sleep alone. And it's getting harder to not be next to you when I'm sleeping," Katniss admitted. Peeta smiled. She opened up about something. They were growing together. And he loved that about her.

"Once we leave here, we'll spend every night together. We won't have to ever be apart again. We'll be together in the Capitol. In the arena. And then when we go to 13. We'll never have to be apart again," Peeta said and took her hand and kissed it.

On Sunday, Gale and Ryee were in their backyard. They were helping them with hand-to-hand combat.

"I don't know why I need to be here for this. I don't fight with anyone but Johanna. And she hits me over the head so she can cut my tracker out of my arm," Katniss said as she sat on the tire swing.

"Because we're showing Snow that we're fighting back. If we just sit here and do nothing, he gets the last laugh," Peeta reminded her. She groaned and laid back in the tire swing, making it swing a little.

"Come on, you could use the practice Mockingjay," Gale said and pushed the swing with his foot. She groaned again.

"I ran on the treadmill for an hour this morning. As long as I can run and shoot my bow, I'm good to go," she said. Peeta chuckled and shook his head.

"What are you afraid I'm gonna kick your ass?" Ryee asked. Peeta and Gale just stood there. Katniss sat up and stared at him.

"What did you say?" Katniss asked him.

"Oh no," Peeta said, "Oh good God," Gale said, at the same time. Ryee just chuckled.

"You think I can't beat you?" Katniss asked. Ryee just laughed.

"Please. You're like a twig, Seam girl," Ryee said. It wasn't derogatory, like their mom would say. It was funny.

"You did see me win the Hunger Games, right?"

"Yeah, and I saw you fail in hand-to-hand combat. You couldn't fight Clove off. You couldn't fight Cato off. You couldn't fight a monkey off. And Johanna hit you in the head. You kinda suck at hand-to-hand combat," Ryee said.

"I wouldn't do that Ryee," Peeta warned him.

"Yeah, you're just asking for it," Gale said. Ryee just laughed. Katniss got off the swing and she stood right in front of him. They stared at each other. Something caught her eye and she looked over his shoulder.

"Haymitch leave the damn chickens alone!" Katniss yelled over his shoulder. Ryee turned around and he didn't even see it coming. Katniss had knocked his feet right out from under him and he landed on his back. Katniss stood over him smiling, while Peeta and Gale just laughed.

"We tried to tell you," Peeta told him. Ryee stood back up and Katniss just chuckled.

"Alright, alright. That was good. So, let's play and see what you got, Girl on Firah!" Ryee joked. Katniss laughed and they started going at it.

"Come over here," Gale said to Peeta.

"Yeah, tall people always think that they have one over on me because I'm shorter," Peeta said. Gale chuckled.

"Oh, I saw you take down Brutus and get away from Cato. And I've seen what you did in the Capitol. I don't underestimate you," Gale said honestly.

They went at it, as Katniss and Ryee did.

"Ok you gotta hold your ground when you see me running at you. Get low. If you stand up straight, I'm just gonna take you down. But if you put one of your legs back to center you, you have a better chance of taking anyone down," Ryee said. Katniss nodded and stood back, letting Ryee run at her. But she forgot to throw her leg back, and Ryee hit her. Sending her flying into the air and slamming down on the ground. Knocking the wind out of her.

"KATNISS!" Peeta yelled as he and Gale ran over to them.

"I'm so sorry. I thought you got low like I just told you to do," Ryee said as he rolled off of her.

"Yeah, she doesn't really listen to people who give her directions," Gale said.

"Katniss are you ok," Peeta asked. She was trying to catch her breath.

"Just give her a second," Gale said. She started coughing and holding her stomach.

"Go get her some water," Ryee said, pushing Peeta. He glared at him.

"Me go get some water? You did this. You go get her water," Peeta said and shoved his arm, making Ryee fall back onto the ground.

"Oh my God," Katniss whispered.

"Are you ok? Can you stand?" Peeta asked.

"Not yet," she whispered.

"Did I hit you in the ovaries?" Ryee asked. Peeta whipped around and punched his arm. "What I'm just checking to see if she can still have children," Ryee told him.

"I actually think that you're the first Mellark that I like," Gale said. Peeta and Ryee both looked at him. Ryee smiled and started laughing.

"I can always check for you if need be," Ryee told her and smiled. Peeta pointed towards the street.

"GO HOME!"

When Katniss came down the stairs her mom, Prim, Peeta and Haymitch were in the kitchen.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" they cheered. They had a nice little breakfast.

"We have something for you," Prim said excitedly. Katniss chuckled.

"What is it?" she asked. Prim jumped up and covered her eyes.

"Just wait for it," she said. She heard everyone moving around. When Prim took her hands away from her eyes, she was stunned to see a birthday cake in front of her. Peeta baked her a cake. It was the first birthday cake that Peeta had ever made for her.

The cake was green, and in orange icing it read, 'Happy Birthday Katniss.' It was something so simple, but she loved it. She loved the boy who baked her a cake.

She looked up at him and smiled. "I've had a birthday cake before," she said. Peeta gave her a soft smile.

"Well, now you get one. So, blow out your candles and make a wish," Peeta said. She rolled her eyes and blew out her candles.

"Isn't it a little early for birthday cake?" Katniss asked.

"Not when it's your birthday," her mother said. After they were done, Peeta pulled her over to the door.

"I have a surprise for you," Peeta said as he handed her, her hunting jacket. "You and I finally get that date at the cabin. We're gonna hang out there all day," Peeta said as he strapped on a backpack.

"Really?" she asked. He nodded his head. He hit his watch, and they had to walk around for a bit so they didn't get caught, but they finally made it past the fence. They were about 30 minutes into their walk, when Katniss stopped.

"What's wrong?" he asked her. She walked off the path and walked over to a tree. Peeta looked at it and saw that it looked like a bullseye carved into a tree.

"My dad carved this for me," she whispered. She traced the circle. "This is where he taught me to shoot," she said sadly. He put down his backpack and pulled her to him.

"I just wish he was still around. I got everyone else back…but not him," Katniss said sadly. He pulled back and made her look at him.

"I know sweetheart. But your dad loves you. And he wanted you to have this second chance. I'm sorry he won't ever be back. But he loved you enough that he was able to send us back to change things. He may not be here anymore…but he gave you back Prim," Peeta said. Katniss looked up at him.

"He gave you Rue, Finnick, Cinna. He gave them all back to you. So, don't be sad. Not today. Today, we're celebrating your birthday," Peeta said and kissed her cheek. He picked his backpack back up.

When they got to the cabin, Katniss right away wanted to hop into the water because she was hot. Peeta joined her. The water was cool on their skin. He tried showing off his swimming schools to her.

"You've gotten so much better at that," she told him.

They spent the day outside on the lake. Swimming, or sitting in front of the log. He pulled out a wonderful lunch with all her favorite things to eat.

"This has been the best birthday. I really loved being out here with you," she said and kissed his cheek.

They made the trek back to the fence and walked around so they weren't caught by the cameras. "You get to stay over at my house tonight," Peeta said as he wiggled his eyebrows, making her laugh.

They made it back to Peeta's house by the time the sun set. "I have a present for you," he said as he pulled his backpack off his shoulders and set it on the floor. Katniss smiled.

"Before I give it to you…I just wanna ask you something…after, when all of this is over…what do you envision for the future?" he asked. Katniss was momentarily stunned by the question. She didn't wanna mess this up. She had promised him that she would be more honest with her thoughts.

She cleared her throat. "I don't know what it looks like. I can't see anything. I just know that it's with you Peeta," she told him and then cringed. She looked down at her feet.

"That sounds horrible. I'm sorry," she said. He chuckled.

"Why is that horrible? That's not a bad answer. There's nothing negative about it. It's honest, and it makes me really happy that you've been trying really hard with me to let me in. I know how hard that it is for you. And I love that you're letting me in. So, thank you," he said and kissed her softly.

"Your birthday present is upstairs. I'm just a little worried about it. If you feel anything bad, or if you're scared, or mad, or it just makes you feel something you don't understand, then you have to tell me. And I promise you, you won't hurt my feelings. Can you promise me that you'll tell me?" he asked her. She gulped and then nodded her head.

He smiled and took her hand and led her up to his bedroom. He made her stand in the middle of the room, and then turned the lights on. Peeta had painted his room. She instantly figured out why this was her birthday present. He painted his bedroom green. Not a dark green like she preferred. It looked like trees. But I lighter green, so the room wouldn't be dark. It was beautiful.

"Katniss?" he whispered. She looked all around.

"Why?" it was all she could say. Peeta looked at the walls.

"Well…I wanted a change," he chuckled.

"Why didn't you paint it orange?"

"I figured that could be for the kitchen. Or my studio. But green makes me happy. Because it makes me think of you," he told her. She looked at him, in awe.

"I want a future with you. I want this to be our home. I want this to be our bedroom. I want you to have something that makes it you in this house," he said and waited for a response. "I can paint over it if you like. I don't want to put pressure on you," Peeta told her.

Katniss just went over and hugged him tightly. She was loved. She was so very loved by this man. She didn't know how she got lucky. She didn't know what she ever did to deserve Peeta. But he made her happy. She felt loved.

"I love it. Thank you," she whispered. He hugged her tighter.

"Happy birthday," he told her.

It was hard for Peeta to sleep alone. He had another nightmare. That he was left behind in the Capitol. That he was tortured for longer than a few months. He changed out of his sweaty clothes.

"My mom said that if you have a nightmare, you can come over. Day or night. She wants you to come over in the middle of the night if you need me. Because she loves you, and she knows that we need each other,"

So, he walked out of his house, and quietly into their house. It was weird. He felt like he was sneaking around. He tried to be careful and quiet on the stairs, and down the hall into Katniss' bedroom. She was sitting up.

"Hey. I didn't realize you were awake," Peeta said as he shut her door.

"I wasn't. But you're so loud," Katniss said. Peeta chuckled. "Open the window," she said. It was really sweet of her. She didn't care about the window open, but he did. He opened it and got into bed with her. She felt his arms.

"You're clammy. You had a real bad nightmare huh?" she asked. He nodded his head. "Take off your shirt. It's too hot," Katniss told him. He took his shirt off and she smiled.

Another night she came over. She snuck up into his room and took off her slippers and pants and crawled into bed. Peeta rolled over and stretched.

"Hi sweetheart. How bad was your nightmare?" he asked. She shook her head.

"I didn't have one. I just couldn't sleep," she said and climbed over him to be on her side. He rolled into her and rubbed her side. He went down further, and he loved the feel of her bare legs. He felt her lips against his, and he opened his eyes to see that she was smiling.

"Couldn't sleep huh?" he mocked. She smiled.

"Well, it is true. I really couldn't sleep," she said as she wrapped her leg around his hip. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her, pushing her on her back.

"You can wake me up anytime you want an orgasm," he whispered, his voice deep and husky, making her blush. She looked up into his blue eyes and they were clouded over. She felt his hardness pushed into her core. She licked her lips and started pulling at his shirt.

He yanked it off and threw it across the room, crashing his lips back down to her. He passionately kissed her and had to come up for air. He attacked her neck. Nibbling every inch of skin he could find. He pushed part of her shirt aside to kiss her collarbone.

She felt that hunger in her belly and it was pulsating from down there. They were connected. And it was on fire tonight. Peeta made her feel on fire.

She had been lying in bed, just thinking about him. Thinking how far they've come since they've met, and even just since they came back a second time. And then her mind started wandering to the newest part of their relationship. And then she felt a throbbing down there. She tried to ignore it. She tried to stop thinking about him. But it wasn't working. The throbbing was getting more intense. She tried to squeeze her legs together and realized that was a big mistake.

So, she got dressed and came here. To the one person who could fill that need. Who could feed her hunger. Who was the cause of her throbbing, and the only one who could satisfy it.

He pulled her leg tighter around him, and she started moving up and down, rubbing herself against his erection, eliciting a moan from each of them. She didn't stop though. She was trying to bring herself to orgasm. He thrust up into her and she moaned and arched her back. He ached to touch her breasts.

She was grinding against him harder now, moaning, trying to get there. But Peeta noticed something different. Desperation. He kissed her and held her body, trying to slow her down, but she practically cried out.

"Do you need more?" he asked. She nodded. This time quicker than the last time he asked her that.

"Please Peeta," she panted. He nodded his head and licked his lips. So, this was it.

"Can I touch you down there?" he asked her. She sucked in her lip and he saw that shyness again. "Over your panties. I won't put my hand inside," he told her. She nodded her head as he laid his hand flat on her stomach and slowly made his way down to above her panties.

He looked back over at her to make sure this was ok. She was breathing heavy, her eyes clouded with lust. He looked back down and watched as his hand slowly started his way down her panties. He was touching her! When he got his hand in place, he looked back up at her, and cupped her, pressing his palm right into that bundle of nerves that set her on fire.

She arched back and moaned. He smiled, he loved watching he come undone. He cupped her again, and again. Then used one finger to trail up towards her clit. He pushed down on it and she moaned again. He smiled.

"Is that where you feel good?" he whispered, biting her ear. She nodded her head. This was an entire new feeling for her.

When they would rub against each other, she couldn't figure out where exactly the pleasure was coming from. But she just felt it. It was a small bundle of nerves, and that was the spot that makes her erupt into pleasure beyond anything she could describe.

"Yes," she moaned. He pressed down again, and he felt her shutter. This was an entirely new sensation for her, and he knew that. She had only ever rubbed her body against him. Now, they were in new territory again. Now, he was purposefully touching her clit.

He started rubbing It up and down, and she gasped. "Peeta," she moaned. Oh, the sound of his name on her lips caused shock waves down to his erection, and he rubbed himself into her hip. He started rubbing slow circles around her clit. And then went back down to cup her again, pressing the bottom of his palm into her clit. He could tell instantly and looked down. She was soaking wet, right through her panties.

He always paid attention to every detail during their most intimate times. He could always feel her panties on his thigh. But this…this was the most aroused she had ever been. She had never been this wet before. And he surprisingly had a little moisture on his fingers. He brought his fingers back up to her clit and rubbed circles a little harder.

"Is this what you were thinking about in your bed?" He whispered into her ear. She opened her eyes.

"Yes," she moaned as he switched directions.

"Did you feel something down here?" he asked, pressing down. She moaned and nodded her head. He watched her slam her hand down and grip the sheets.

"What did you feel?" he asked. God, he felt like he could cum right there. He rubbed himself against her again.

"Throbbing," she moaned, grabbing her own hair.

"Did you feel that throbbing right here?" he asked as he pushed down harder, making her yelp in pleasure.

"Yes. Right there," she moaned. He started rubbing her up and down now, a little faster.

"Were you thinking of me?" he asked. She nodded her head. He leaned down and kissed her.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered and started rubbing a little faster.

"Oh God Peeta," she panted, grabbing onto his shoulder, and pulling him down a little. She was almost there. He thrust into her body to relieve his own throbbing. He sucked on her ear.

"Baby I can feel how close you are," Peeta said. She arched high again and he felt her body tense. He started rubbing faster and she gripped the sheets. She was right there…she was right there. She was breathing fast and tensed her body even more. He knew what was happening. She was trying not to have an orgasm. She was trying to hold off because her orgasm was coming much quicker than it ever had. She wasn't doing a great job. He chuckled.

"I know you're close. Don't fight it. We'll have all the time in the world to do this. I want you to let go. I want you to feel it. Let me give you the best orgasm you've had so far," he whispered, and moved his fingers at such a fast pace, that she couldn't hold out, and practically started screaming.

It sent him over the edge, and he shuddered, reaching his own orgasm. Her body was shaking, and he leaned over her to hold her still, and kissed her to drown out her moans of pleasure. He wanted to drag this out. He knew how sensitive she was at the moment, but he didn't care. He wouldn't stop.

She squirmed under him and latched onto his shoulders and he felt her body shake.

"Oh my God Peeta," she stuttered.

"You're not done yet Katniss. You still need more. And I want all of your orgasm. I want it," he said. He knew what his own voice was doing to her. What his words were doing to her. She'd have this whole-body shudder when he spoke. And he loved it.

He wouldn't stop his fast speed. One of her legs was trapped between his own, unable to move. The other one tried to stay on his hip, but it kept falling off. She tried to get his hand to stop because she was oversensitive, but his leg prevented her from that.

Her face below his right now made him smile. She almost looked like she was going to cry. Her arms were shaking. He knew she was close again.

"I want it Katniss. I want the rest of your orgasm. Give it to me baby," he whispered against her lips. It was building up. "That's right baby. Feel it. Cum for me," he whispered. This orgasm was even more earth shattering for her then the one right before this.

Her body was spasming and his mouth barely drowned out the screams. It lasted maybe 45 seconds before she started grabbing his hand. "Peeta stop," she cried. He gradually slowed down. Letting her come down from her high slowly. Until he had finally stopped.

He looked down at her and bit back a moan and looked back up at her. Not wanting to see him stare. Her panties were totally soaked, that was for sure. His own fingers were now soaked. But he had been rubbing her so hard that her panties were not covering her. They were bunched up between her lips. It was the hottest thing he ever saw.

But he didn't want her to know he saw so much of her. She was panting so hard; she was making small noises. Her hand was on her forehead trying to wipe her sweat away. Her leg twitched slightly, and he smiled. That was one of the best fantasies come to life for him. He always dreamt of touching Katniss down there. And now he did. Sure, her panties were still on. But God, he touched her. And he gave her an orgasm. Quite a few now actually. But this one was different. This one was because he brought her to orgasm with his fingers.

They laid there for a few minutes. Half his body still on her. His face resting on the pillow. He softly kissed her cheek without moving his body.

"Yeah, you can wake me up anytime you want," Peeta said. She let out a soft chuckle. He lifted his head and brushed some hair off of her face. "We should probably change," he chuckled. She just nodded her head. He stood up and pulled her by the hand along with him.

He reached into his top drawer and not only pulled out a pair of shorts, but her underwear as well. He stared at the inside of the drawer for moment, looking at both of their items in one drawer. This was what he wanted. He wanted to share drawers and closet space with her. He wanted little things like this. He wanted normal. He wanted his future with Katniss to start already.

He felt arms wrapped around his waist from behind him.

"What has you so lost in thought?" she asked. He just laughed and turned in her arms, handing her panties.

"How I can't wait to start my future with you," Peeta said. She straightened her back. She wasn't expecting him to say that, and he just smiled. "Did I scare you?" he asked.

"No…it's just…it's just weird thinking about our lives being our own. I was banished to 12, and I never really had freedom. I don't know what it was like," Katniss said. Neither did he. He was forced to stay in the Capitol and was finally allowed to on the condition that he was going to be back shortly. But he shook his head, and then tilted her chin up to look at him.

"Don't think like that. I just…I want to share things with you. Like my closet," he said. Katniss snorted and chuckled, again surprised by his answer.

"What?" she asked. He wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Yeah. I dream of the little things. My coat hanging up next to yours. Your toothbrush next to mine. Tripping over your hunting boots," he chuckled. She leaned into him and kissed him softly.

"Yeah, that doesn't sound so bad," Katniss agreed.

"Neither does you moaning under me," he whispered. She pulled back and slapped his chest. Laughing.

"God don't say that," she chuckled and went into the bathroom with him following her. She couldn't hide the blush on her face.

He grabbed a washcloth and ran it under warm water. It was normal for them to do this now. He'd take a washcloth and clean her up a little. But this time he got a little braver.

He stood facing her and he ran the cloth on her stomach, over to her thigh, and then slowly between her legs and cleaned her center. She bit her lip and her breathing slowed for a moment.

"Is this ok?" he asked. She nodded her head and they never lost eye contact. It wasn't to turn each other on again. It was just…something new. It was pushing the barriers just a little more in their relationship. And he loved every second of it.

The next morning while they were still in bed, they heard the front door slam, startling them awake. "What the…" Peeta trailed off. Unexpectedly, Haymitch appeared.

"Haymitch get out of my room," Peeta sat up and told him, pointing his arm.

"Every damn time you wind up in each other's beds, I get bitched at. You're being careless. If I get called one more time because you two horndogs can't stop dry humping each other, I'm coming up here, right here in the middle of it and dragging whoever's bed it isn't, out of it!" Haymitch told them. Their mouths dropped.

"You two need to get ahold of your damn hormones and stay out of each other's beds!" Then he pointed to Katniss.

"Don't point your finger at me. You should be the one apologizing to us," she told him. His eyes widened. Peeta raised his own eyes a little as well. What could Haymitch have to apologize for?

"What the hell do I have to apologize for?"

"Start with barging in and keep going with whatever word that's come out of your mouth since," she snapped at him.

"I will drag you out of this bed right now if I have to," he was seething. Peeta wasn't ready to let Katniss go just yet.

"Go home!" Haymitch told her and stomped out of the house. As soon as he left, they burst out laughing. Peeta kissed her and then pulled back, cupping her cheek.

"He's sorta right," Peeta said. Katniss sighed and plopped her head back on the pillow. "How about I give you something before you head home," Peeta said. She picked her head back up.

"What is it?" she asked. He smiled and got out of bed, handing her, her pajama pants and he pulled on his shirt. They headed downstairs and he walked over to the piano. She smiled at him.

"You wrote me another one?" she asked.

"Yeah. Sit down," he said as they both sat down. "I wrote this one before. I just had it memorized. It was after I found out that you were going back into the arena," he said and looked at her. At the time, they didn't know if Peeta or Haymitch would be going in. But Katniss was for sure going in. She didn't want to think about that.

"It's kinda funny though. When I started thinking about this one. It's kind of crazy," he said. She just stared at him. "You'll see what I mean,"

So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place
When I'm gone, you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face
If a great wave shall fall
It would fall upon us all
And between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

And maybe I'll work out
A way to make it back some day
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days

If a great wave shall fall
It would fall upon us all
Well I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high or down low
I'll go wherever you will go

Run away with my heart
Run away with my hope
Run away with my love

I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart, in your mind
I'll stay with you for all of time

If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high, or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
If I could make you mine
I'll go wherever you will go
If i could turn back time
I'll go wherever you will go
I'll go wherever you will go

"You wrote this last time?" she asked. He nodded his head.

"Yeah. It's just kind of crazy talking about sand and waves. And then turning back time. I kinda laughed when I said it out loud," he said. He looked over at her, she was in shock.

"Why didn't you ever let me read this?" she asked. He cleared his throat.

"You were going to read it," he said. She looked over and raised her eyebrow. "I left it for you to read when you came back from the Quell…alive," he said. She sucked in a breath. He looked back up at her and tucked some hair behind her ear.

Her lips trembled and she covered her mouth. Tears fell onto her hand. "Katniss, I didn't mean to make you cry," he told her, but she stopped him because she hugged him so tightly and started crying.

"Shh Katniss it's ok," he said and kissed her shoulder.

"Don't you dare leave me anything to read in case you die. Please don't do it. Please don't Peeta," she sobbed. He pulled her back to look at him.

"You can't die. You can't ever leave me again," she cried.

"Katniss please. I'm sorry I didn't know you'd react like this. I'll rip it up and I won't- "

"No. I love it. This is the best one you've done. Just please don't do that this time. Please don't leave me anything for when I come home. In case I-we don't come home," she cried. He kissed her on the lips. She was gonna say if she came home without him. But her know she changed it. If something happened to Peeta…they would be in the exact situation. She would kill herself again.

"I promise I won't. But I don't have to leave you anything. Because we're coming back together. God I'm so sorry Katniss. This wasn't the reaction I…I'm sorry," he told her sadly. He looked back at the piano and Katniss knew he looked guilty.

"No. I'm sorry. You did something…" she pulled back and aggressively wiped her face. "As usual you did something so perfect. And I ruined it like I always do," she said and looked away.

"You did something beautiful like you always do," she said, angry at herself.

"You didn't ruin it. Maybe I should have just prepared you for it. It's ok," he said and stroked her hair. She looked back at him.

"Will you play it again?" she asked. He nodded his head, and he played it for over an hour before she went back home.

And that was the moment that set her off again. After she had listened to him play that song, she went back to her house and got dressed, and then went and walked around. She ended up in the meadow and just sat there. She stared at the fence. Not too close. She didn't want anyone to think she was gonna try and get passed it. She just wanted to sit here.

All those feelings and memories came back up. Sadness, depression, anger, fear, desperation, lonely…guilty and selfish. She couldn't stop thinking about the way she acted when they announced the Quell. How selfish she was. How devastated she was that Peeta chose to be in the arena for her, when she gave him nothing in return.

Each day they came closer and closer to going back to the Capitol, she became more and more fearful. What if Peeta gets left behind again? What if he gets hijacked again? She couldn't take that. He would never come back from that. He would have three sets of memories going on.

She overheard Haymitch one time talking to Peeta on the phone, before she killed herself, when he didn't think she could hear. But she could hear Peeta, and he said that there was a chance that meds could possibly keep his episodes at bay. But they didn't think he'd ever be cured.

What happens if she loses him again? She can't lose him again. If he gets captured by the Capitol, that was it. She'd kill herself. She'd do it so Snow would know, and then he would have no reason to hijack Peeta.

That was her plan. It was her fallback plan. If Peeta was captured, she'd get on camera, live. Broadcasted in the Capitol, and she'd kill herself before anyone had the chance to stop her. Snow would be defeated. He'd have no leverage.

"Katniss?" she heard a voice. She jumped up and spun around, ready to attack whoever snuck up on her.

"I didn't mean to scare you," Madge said, holding her hands up, a little afraid. Katniss put her hand over her heart.

"I'm sorry," Katniss panted.

"No, I'm sorry. I was calling your name, but you couldn't hear me. So, I got closer to you," Madge said. Katniss nodded and sat back down.

"It's ok," Katniss said. Madge sat next to her.

"Are you ok?" Madge asked her. Katniss didn't answer her. "You're scared, aren't you?" Madge asked. Katniss just stared ahead.

"I always am," she answered sadly. It was true. She wondered, if they all made it out of this alive, would she ever stop being scared? She didn't even remember what not being scared felt like.

"If you ever want to talk Katniss, I'm always here to listen," Madge said. Katniss looked over at her.

"There are so many things that I don't know how you feel. I won't ever know how losing your father feels. Or starving. Going into the Hunger Games twice. Then coming back and doing it again. Or even going through a war. I'm not going to ever pretend I understand. But I don't need to understand it, to just listen to you," Madge said. Katniss nodded her head.

"Thank you," Katniss said.

"I know you said before that there were a lot of things you couldn't tell me…but when we get to District 13…could you tell me then?" she asked. Katniss thought about that. Could she tell Madge? Should she tell her? Dealing with everything Katniss has gone through with Snow would give anyone nightmares just hearing about it.

"I'm not sure," she answered honestly. Madge nodded her head.

"Then that's ok," Madge said and squeezed her hand. They sat in silence for a while.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" Katniss asked.

"Oh," Madge said and blushed. "Well, I was actually walking by here last week. And Gale must have had the same idea you did about going into the woods. He was sitting out here just like you are. So, I went over and talked with him. He actually isn't that awful to talk to once he's not snapping at me," she joked. What did that have to do with it?

"Well…I thought maybe he was gonna be out here again. He looked real lonely last week. I thought maybe he needed a friend," Madge said. Katniss caught her face blushing. Madge liked Gale. She turned back to look at the fence. She hoped for Gale's sake that he would like her back.

It started again. She couldn't sleep. She would try and hide it better this time. She waited until the appropriate amount of time to get up. She walked around town, hiding from Peeta and Haymitch, and went home. She didn't sleep.

The next day she said she wasn't feeling good. Her mom made her soup and she pretended to sleep.

The third night she kept dozing, but she stayed awake. She pretended to throw up the next morning so no one would be suspicious.

But she wasn't good at hiding it. The fourth night she succumbed to sleep.

"Ladies and Gentlemen. May I present to you the winner, of the 75th Hunger Games, and the third Quarter Quell…KATNISS EVERDEEN!" Claudius announced. Katniss fell to her knees over Peeta's dead body.

"How could you do this to me? How could you leave me here. I was supposed to die Peeta," she said as she shook his shoulders. Her arrow piercing his heart. His eyes still opened. "DON'T LEAVE ME ALONE PEETA!" she sobbed.

She was in the hovercraft, and they were dragging away his dead body.

Haymitch was hugging her as she was about to go on stage to watch the Quarter Quell with Caesar Flickerman.

"I can't go out there Haymitch. Please," she sobbed.

"You have to. You're the winner. If you don't go out there, they'll kill your family and me," Haymitch said.

She was watching the moment it happened. The cannon sounded.

"Finnick's dead," Peeta said as Katniss tried to shake Finnick awake. She felt something at her back. She turned and saw Peeta with her arrow.

"NO!" Katniss screamed as he pushed the arrow through his own heart and fell to the ground. She yanked the arrow out of him.

"PEETA!" Katniss screamed, trying to stop the bleeding.

"I love you," he whispered. The cannon sounded again.

Katniss fell off her chair, sobbing.

Haymitch held her up while Snow put the crown on her head, laughing.

"And here I thought you dying would make me the happiest. But no, it was you standing here sobbing, knowing that Peeta's death is your fault, along with 22 other people. And what a pity. You've finally convinced me that you loved him. A little too late," and she vomited from the smell of blood and roses.

She went into his house to clear out all of his things, and she sobbed over every item of Peeta's. Then she found the letter to her. The song.

She was back in the arena. She was being pulled up by the hovercraft.

"KATNISS! PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME HERE!" Peeta yelled from the ground. She watched him as he got smaller and smaller.

"KATNISS THEY'RE COMING FOR ME!" He yelled, and Snow was there, injecting him with trackerjacker venom.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU FOR LEAVING ME HERE AGAIN!"

She screamed as she woke up. She couldn't breathe. Oh God, Peeta was gonna die.

"He will die Mrs. Everdeen. Did you really think you were going to get a second chance?" Snow laughed

Oh God, she could hear President Snow again.

"It will be your all your fault. I will beat him to an inch of his death. I will drown him. Suffocate him. Just to bring him back and starve him. I will pump so much trackerjacker venom inside of him, you'll never be able to reach him. I'll erase every memory from his brain. He won't know who Peeta Mellark is. He'll be lost. And you'll be dead,"

No, no, no, no. Stop talking to her. But he was going die. She jumped up and started throwing on clothes.

"Katniss are you ok?" Prim opened the door and asked. Katniss was panting so hard. She ran past Prim and ran right out of the house. Without her shoes on. She ran as hard as she could. She ran through the Seam. She ran as far as she could until she was standing in front of the electrified fence and fell to her knees.

"Just let me die," she said and fell to the grass. "Please just let me die," If she died right now, then they'd cancel the Quell. They wouldn't have enough Tribute's. Snow would change his mind on the Quell and not send Victor's in.

"PEETA!" Prim yelled as she opened his door. Peeta jumped out of his bed.

"Prim?" he asked and got out of bed. "What's the matter?" he asked.

"She ran out of the house. She had a nightmare," Prim cried. He ran back into his room and threw on some pants and came back downstairs and pulled his boots on. Prim was crying as Emily was coming up the stairs.

"Which way did she go Prim?" Emily asked. As Peeta got to his porch, he saw Haymitch coming out of his house.

"I don't know which way she went," Prim cried.

"She ran into the meadow," Haymitch said. 13 much have caught her on camera.

"It's ok. We'll be back," Peeta said as he and Haymitch went off running. "I knew she wasn't sick. She wasn't sleeping," Peeta said. Peeta was surprised that Haymitch kept up with him. Adrenaline was pumping through him…but why?

"What did they say?" Peeta panted.

"She's at the fence," Haymitch said. They ran into the meadow and had a hard time seeing anything. The only light they had was the moon.

"There she is," Peeta said and went running. As they got closer to the fence, they could hear her sobbing.

"Please let Peeta go. Just take me. Please just take me," Katniss sobbed. Peeta bent down and touched her.

"Katniss I'm right here," Peeta said. She covered her ears.

"No, no, no, no, no. Don't hijack him. I'll do anything you want. Please leave him alone," she sobbed.

"Katniss, is he talking to you again? Katniss just ignore him," Peeta told her.

"Just let me die. Just let me die," she sobbed. Peeta forced her to sit up.

"Katniss. It isn't real. Snow isn't here. It's me and Haymitch," Peeta said. She shook her head.

"Take me instead. Please," she begged. Peeta grabbed her face.

"Baby wake up. It's me. I'm right here in front of you. I'm ok. I'm right here. I'm not hijacked. Open your eyes and look at me," Peeta told her. She shook her head. "Katniss open your eyes. I'm right here I swear," he said. He took her hands and brought it up to his face.

"See. I'm right here. I'm right here Katniss. Just open your eyes for me. Please," he begged her. She slowly opened her eyes and looked at him.

"See. I'm really here. I'm ok," he said. Her shoulders shook.

"I'll die if you get left behind. I'll die," Katniss cried. Peeta's eyes filled with tears as he shook his head.

"No, you won't. Because I'm going to 13 with you," Peeta said.

"Please Peeta. Just let me die here at the fence. He won't send you into the arena if I die now. Just let me die Peeta," she cried. He went to hug her, but Haymitch grabbed her arm roughly and turned her to face him.

"Tell Snow to shut the fuck up!" Haymitch told her. Shaking her with every word he said. "You're not dying again Katniss. Not now, not ever in my lifetime. You are living a long happy life, if I have to drag you kicking and screaming for the next 50 years," he shook her again.

"Tell that bastard to go to hell," Haymitch spit out. Katniss was shaking, and Haymitch let Peeta turn her towards him. Haymitch gave him a moment to collect himself while he yelled at her.

"Katniss. I'm gonna take you home now. And you're gonna get some sleep," he told her. She shook her head. "Don't say no. I'm taking you home and you're going to go to sleep. And I'll chase away any nightmare you have. You need sleep," Peeta told her. She softly cried and buried her face in his chest. Haymitch helped him stand up without her loosening around his neck. He scooped her up into her arms and carried her through the Seam.

"She just needs sleep. You know that. She'll be fine after that," Haymitch told him. They walked silence back to her house.

"Oh, thank God, you found her," Emily said as they walked in.

"Is she ok?" Prim cried.

"She'll be just fine. She just needs some sleep," Haymitch told them as Peeta started walking up the stairs. He laid her down on the bed, and she was fighting sleep.

He went down the hall and got a towel and wet it. He went back to her and started wiping her face, hands and feet from where she had dirt on her. He shut the door and took his pants and shirt off. He pulled her pajama pants off and realized her own shirt and pajama pants were filthy.

He pulled some out of her drawer. He helped her slip off her pants and put new one's on. But he could tell, she didn't have a bra on. But he thought of the way he helped her take her bra off, without taking her shirt off. So, he put on the clean shirt over her dirty one and pulled her hands through and out of the old one. And then pulled the shirt over her head then got into bed, pulling her to his chest. Purposely placing her ear over his heart.

"Hear it beating Katniss?" he asked her. She slowly nodded her head. "It beats only for you. And if yours stops…so does mine," he told her. He felt her nod her head.

"Close your eyes Katniss. Fall asleep. I'll still be here when you wake up," he told her. She wouldn't listen.

"Stop fighting it. Go to sleep Katniss. You need sleep or this will only get worse," She tried to fight it but sleep always won out.

Peeta was so worried about her. He saw this happening as soon as the Quell was announced. She was terrified. And he knew she would have another episode where she didn't sleep for a few days. And when she doesn't sleep…she hears Snow talking to her.

Around noon time, Katniss was still in a deep sleep when Haymitch came in.

"Alright. We need to go over every detail with her. She needs to hear the plan for the morning of the Reaping till we leave the arena, over and over again. She needs to know it like the back of her hand. She needs to hear it," Haymitch said. It was true. Because they were very close now.

A few nights later Peeta, Katniss and Haymitch snuck out of their houses and met in the house in the Seam that everyone was using to escape District 12.

"Alright sweetheart. We're going to go over the plan. Every single detail we can think of. And if we have questions, we can just call 13," Haymitch said and held up his wrist.

"First of all, when it's down to the final 8, the cameras are here doing interviews with the families. We're making it easy for them. Your mom and sister, Peeta's family and Gale's family are all gonna be at the Mayor's house. They'll do the interviews, and once they're gone…then it's showtime," Haymitch said, wiggling his eyebrows.

"The Peacekeepers are all going to be lining up in the square. Fake orders. 13's going to set off their trackers and they're all going to collapse to the ground in pain. The ones who are left standing, are Rebels. We have enough men that they're going to restrain them. Everyone left after the final 8 is getting out of here. Taking all the Peacekeepers with them. It's gonna be quick once it's the final 8. Because once Chaff dies, it's going quick. No one will be here when the bombs go off," Haymitch said. Peeta squeezed her hand.

"That's a relief," Peeta said.

"And our families are gonna be ok?" she asked. Haymitch smiled.

"They will be. Now, onto the Quell," Haymitch said. This one took a lot more talking. From the moment they get on the train what they say and do. They'll watch and pretend to see who gets reaped. How they will act once they get into the Capitol. What to do when talking with other Tributes. How to act in the Training Center. What to do in the interviews.

"I have some better ideas when I'm on stage," Katniss said. Peeta and Haymitch smiled.

"Really? Good, I'm glad," he said and kissed her cheek. "I'm still going with that she's pregnant," Peeta said.

"You are sticking with that. But…Katniss, you gotta feed into it a little more. You can't just let everyone carry that story. You're going to do a few different things before you get into the arena. And we're not going with the look of surprise. It won't work the second time. You don't do a fake surprise well," Haymitch said. Katniss rolled her eyes.

"Thanks a lot," she grumbled.

"That's why we're changing it up a little. Because Peeta saying your pregnant won't have that much effect if you don't look surprised," Haymitch said. When they got to talk about the arena, this is where Katniss tensed up.

"We know it's a clock. But you can't avoid getting stuck in it. If you're avoiding the fog, the monkeys, the jabber jays, Snow will send things in to give the Capitol some drama. Snow enjoyed watching you get tortured. So, you're going to get stuck in the fog. And that's where you'll lose Mags," Haymitch said. Katniss rubbed her eyes.

"She'll still be alive Katniss. That's all that matters," Peeta told her.

"Everyone's still going to die the same way. Then you're gonna fight those damn monkeys. Except this time, 13 is controlling them. We can't just guarantee that you'll make all the same moves that you did last time. So, if they need to, they'll control them. One person controls one monkey. So, they're all covered," Haymitch said.

"I just don't get how they are able to control everything more than they did before," Katniss said.

"Because a lot of people remember their freedom. And they want it back," Haymitch told her.

"Peeta isn't getting hit by the forcefield," Katniss said. Haymitch smiled.

"He won't Katniss. That part we don't have to worry about. We don't need that," Haymitch said. She let out a deep breath and leaned into Peeta.

"What about getting everyone out. Getting Peeta out. We can't separate this time," Katniss said. Haymitch looked down. "I'm not letting him out of my sight," Katniss yelled at him.

"Snow will know something is wrong if Finnick and Johanna let you stay by yourselves. We need to do it exactly how we did last time," Haymitch said. Katniss stood up and went to attack Haymitch, but Peeta was too quick and pulled her back down.

"I will not let him get taken to the Capitol. We are not separating in the arena. You tell District 13 that they can go to hell," Katniss yelled.

"Katniss calm down. Haymitch is right," Peeta said. She spun her head to look at him. "We can't let Snow catch on,"

"You can't go. You won't make it back to me," Katniss cried.

"We have a plan. And we have back up plans. So sweetheart, you're going to listen to every one of those plans," Haymitch said. They went through every detail with her of all the escape plans for Peeta.

"Katniss if there was another way, I'd take it. I don't want to see anything happen to Peeta…I won't let it happen," Haymitch swore.

They went over everything again, making Katniss repeat it to them. Making sure she understood everything.

"I want to do one thing different. And that's the day of the Reaping!" Katniss said.

"We can do that," Haymitch said. He went over and sat next to her and looked at Peeta. Katniss looked at Peeta, who was just smiling.

"What?" Katniss asked.

"We got a surprise for you," Haymitch said and pushed her watch.

"Hi Katniss," she gasped and covered her mouth. She knows that voice.

"Rue," she whispered. Peeta and Haymitch smiled. Katniss couldn't speak.

"Hi Rue," Peeta said.

"Hi Peeta," Rue said excitedly. "Are you ok Katniss?" she asked. Peeta wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple.

"She's ok Rue. We just surprised her with talking to you," He tightened his hold on her shoulders.

"She can hear you though," Haymitch said.

"It's ok Katniss. You're gonna be with us really soon. I watched you on your Victory Tour…I can only imagine how hard that was for you," Rue said. Katniss covered her face and softly cried into it.

"We're all so excited to see you guys. I can't wait to meet Prim," Rue said. It made the three of them chuckle. Katniss cleared her throat.

"Prim said the same thing," Katniss told her.

"I'm happy that we all get to be real friends now, once you're all here…and Katniss…I'm really proud to be your friend,"

Peeta's nightmares were getting worse. One night he couldn't handle it and went over to Haymitch.

"Nightmare?" Haymitch asked. Peeta was panting and plopped down on the couch with his elbows resting on his knees. He was practically pulling out his hair.

"I need you to go over the plans with me again. I need to know what to do if I get left behind," Peeta choked out.

"You're not getting left behind Peeta!" Haymitch told him.

"Just tell me. I need to hear it," Peeta said and then covered his eyes. He couldn't help it, he started crying. "I can't go back Haymitch. I can't live through that again. I won't make it. I'll kill myself before I let that happen again," Peeta cried. Haymitch sat on the coffee table in front of him and yanked on his hands.

"Don't you start that to. I am not letting you get left behind. It's not happening again. I have made sure that there are back up plans for our back up plans. Everyone who will be in Capitol knows what to do if you get captured. There are people in the mansion that will get you out. God we even have back up plans if you are captured. You won't get trackerjacker venom in you this time. It won't be trackerjacker venom. But it won't even get that far so we don't have to worry that far in advance," Haymitch told him. Peeta tried to take deep breaths, but it wasn't helping.

"Please Haymitch. If they hijack me…I need you to be strong and kill me. Because it won't be me. I'll be gone. I won't be able to fight it again. Going through everything twice, it will make it worse. I'll have too many memories of being the arenas. I'll never figure out what's real or not. Please Haymitch," he sobbed. Haymitch yanked him forward to hug him.

"It won't happen Peeta,"

"I'm terrified," he admitted. Haymitch couldn't talk. He was getting choked up. He'd never admit it to Peeta…but so was he.

"I promise you boy, you'll make it out of there. But you gotta pull it together," Haymitch said and pushed him away, making Peeta look at him. "If Katniss even gets an inkling that you're scared, she'll lose it. She won't make it. I need you to be strong for her. That's something I know that you can do. So, pull it together Peeta," Haymitch said.

The day before the Reaping, Katniss and Peeta walked around a little. It was the last time they'd see District 12 like it was. She walked them to her old house in the Seam.

"Come in here," Katniss said. Peeta followed her into her old house while she looked around. She walked over to the fireplace and showed Peeta some scratch marks.

"My mom and dad used to keep track of how much we grew," Katniss said sadly. She looked around and started crying. "He's taking away my childhood. This was the place my father was," Katniss cried.

They walked more around District 12 for a little while, before the separated.

Katniss went to Gale's house.

"After the interview, we'll come back to our house and get our things. Gale is heading straight to your house to stay with your mom and Prim. We'll get our things and head straight to your house, so we can all stay together. And we'll take Buttercup and Lady," Hazelle told Katniss. She nodded her head.

"You can't worry about what's going on here. You have to concentrate about yourself. Worry about what you're doing. We have everything handled here. You've heard us tell it to you fifty times," Gale told her.

"I'm walking with Lady. She's my responsibility," Rory said.

"No Peacekeepers will be near them?" Katniss asked.

"No. You know that. As soon as the cameras leave, we're taking them out. Peacekeepers are all going into different tunnels, and they're being staggered. When we get there, we won't be near any of them," Gale said.

"They're gonna be tied up so they won't be able to move," Rory said, getting excited. Hazelle took Katniss' hands into her own.

"Katniss, we're all going to be ok. Everyone is going to be ok. We all have a job to do. Our job is to take care of District 12. Your job is to go into the arena. That's your job right now," Hazelle said. Katniss hugged her tightly.

"Darling, everything's going to be just fine. You already know that. Every step of the way you've known that. We'll be ok," Hazelle said. Katniss hugged them goodbye, and she went to leave, but Gale stopped her.

"I'll walk you home," Gale said. They started walking back to the Victor's Village. "Katniss I…" Gale trailed off. Katniss stopped and looked at him. He was looking the other way.

"I failed her. I killed Prim," he said and turned back to her. "Please let me make it up to you and Prim and your mom. I WILL protect them. Please believe me. She's my family to. She's like my sister. I need you to know that I'll protect her with my life," Gale choked out. She jumped into his arms to hug him.

"I trust you Gale. I swear I do. I know that she's going to be safe because you have her. Just like you always have," Katniss cried.

"I'm sorry that you have to pretend to fight with Peeta about me. It's awful and it breaks my heart to see you like that. It isn't fair you torture you with your feelings and make a spectacle of yourself for Snow," Katniss said. Gale pulled back from her.

"Acting for the cameras. Pretending that we're in a relationship when we're not…I got so angry with you that you pretended like that with Peeta... I hated that you got engaged all for the camera…now I get it," he said and looked straight into her eyes. "Now I get what it's like to be you. It's really humbling. And I'm sorry I ever made you feel bad about it," Gale told her.

Peeta said goodbye to his family outside of the Bakery, so no one heard.

Katniss pulled her mom and Prim away from the house to say her goodbyes.

Last time they didn't get that opportunity. It was stolen from them. They were going to take it away again. But this time…they got to say their goodbyes!

Katniss sat with Prim for a few minutes in their backyard. "I'm just tired of all this. I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of having the weight of Panem on my shoulders. I'm tired of knowing that if I fail, I'm letting down everyone," Katniss admitted.

"Then stop doing it for them," Prim said. Katniss looked at her. "Stop fighting this war for them. Stop fighting this war for you friends. Stop fighting it so Rue will see her mom again. So, Cinna won't get beaten. So Finnick will meet his son. Stop fighting for me," Prim said. Katniss' mouth fell open.

"Those things are going to happen. We already know that. And we love you for how you fought for us. But stop fighting for us, and for once, fight for yourself," Prim said. Katniss was at a loss.

"Fight for freedom, for yourself. For you, and for Peeta," Prim told her.

After everyone had gone to bed, Peeta headed up to Katniss' room and got under the covers with her. They stayed quiet and didn't move for a little while. Both lost in their own thoughts. But then Katniss turned her body and kissed him. She threw her leg over him and pushed herself into him. Peeta pulled back and looked at her.

"You sure you want to tonight?" Peeta asked her. She nodded her head.

"I just want to feel one more night with you here. I…" she trailed off and bit her lip. Peeta knew by now that she knew what she wanted to say, but had a difficult time speaking the words. "I want you to touch me again," she whispered so softly he barely heard it.

Peeta smiled. "It's all I dream about," he whispered and letting his hand slowly travel down her stomach and over her panties. She bit her lip and closed her eyes. He cupped her, making her arch her back.

He leaned down and started kissing her neck. He used his thumb and rubbed her clit, making her moan softly. "Does that feel good?" he asked her. She nodded her head. He leaned into her ear.

"Tell me, "He whispered. He felt her shiver. She opened her eyes and licked her lips. He leaned forward and bit her lip, pulling it into his mouth as he added more pressure with his thumb.

"It feels so good," she moaned softly. Peeta smiled and lightly started kissing and sucking on her neck.

He rubbed her clit for a little while before her breathing got heavier, and he could feel it in her body that she was close. The more times they were intimate, the more he got to understand her body. He leaned into her ear again.

"Do you wanna cum?" he asked her. She nodded her head, and he sped his fingers up. "I wanna feel you cum for me," he whispered. His words had the desired effect he wanted, and she started cumming.

He gave her a few minutes to come down from her high, and he was smiling when she opened her eyes. She chuckled and just looked at him. "I love it when you have an orgasm," Peeta said and kissed her. "I gotta go to the bathroom. Give me and few minutes," Peeta said.

"Why?" she asked. He chuckled.

"Because…that got me…excited," he said, raising his eyebrows at her. "And I'm gonna go…take care of it in the bathroom," he told her. She furrowed her eyebrow. She didn't know what he meant. It still amazed him how pure she was. It was one of the many reasons why he loved her. She had been through too much; no kid or teenager should have to go through. He was happy that she could have one normal thing to be innocent about…it still baffled him that she ignored any talk of sex so strongly.

He cleared his throat. "I'm gonna take care of my hard-on with my hand. Basically I'll…I'm just gonna cum in the bathroom," he told her. She tilted her head.

"I thought we always did it together," she said. He smiled at that.

"Well, we usually do. But I was taking care of you," he told her. She bit her lip again. She wanted to say something. Or ask something. But she was shy about it. "You can say anything you want to me you know," he whispered, and lightly ran a finger across her cheek.

"Couldn't I…I mean…couldn't I help?" she asked. He raised his eyebrows. Was he even breathing? That thought just sent shock waves down, making his hard-on even bigger. He cleared his throat.

"I mean…yeah of course. You can…but I'd never ask. It's not something that you have to do. I'm totally fine doing it myself in the bathroom Katniss," he told her. They stared at each other for a few moments.

"I can…I just…I just don't know what I'm supposed to do," Katniss told him. Peeta nodded his head.

"I can help you. But I want to make sure you're absolutely certain that you want to do this. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if you change your mind," he told her. She nodded her head and thought it over.

"I want to," she said. Had he forgotten how to breathe? She was going to touch him. He gulped. He laid back as she leaned up on her elbow.

"Ok. Give me your hand," he said. His voice deepening. All husky. She gave him her hand and he turned it palm down. Slowly bringing it to him. He put her hand at the base of his dick and squeezed her hand, over his boxers.

He laid his head back and groaned. Just one little squeeze felt good. "That feels good?" she asked. He sucked in his lips and looked at her. His eyes clouded over, and he nodded his head.

"So good," he whispered. He kept his hand over hers and moved her hand down to the head. Squeezing her hand in all the right places. He threw his head back and arched his back.

Katniss liked watching him. She didn't realize how she could make him feel. She knew that he always concentrated on her, but it was a whole different experience concentrating on him.

Katniss let him guide her hand up and down his shaft. She was shocked by how big he was. She had felt his hardness on her plenty of times now. And would feel it sometimes in the morning against her. But never like this. Never full out staring at his bulge under his shorts.

"Katniss," Peeta moaned. His breathing started getting heavier and faster, and he moved her hand up and down his shaft faster.

"Oh God…Katniss," he moaned. His hand pulled her hand faster and then she watched as he started to orgasm. It was thrilling to watch him, knowing that she did that. Her hand did that to him, like his hand had done to her. She could feel wetness through his shorts. She wondered if that's what he felt when she had an orgasm.

He laid back on the pillow, panting and took both of his hands and rubbed his eyes. He pulled his hand back and looked at her.

"Was that ok?" she asked him. His eyes widened.

"Are you seriously asking me that? Katniss, that has been one of my biggest fantasies is to have your hands on me like that," Peeta said. He pulled her down on top of him and kissed her.

"I have never been more turned on in my entire life," he joked and kissed her again. "You can do that to me any time you want. You have my permission. You don't even need to ask," he told her. She buried her face in his neck and laughed. It was amazing to hear her laugh. If he could distract her, even for a little while, then that's what he would do. Anything to take her away from what was going on.

Peeta got out of her bed and went into her drawer. He pulled out a clean pair of panties for her and dug around to the bottom for a pair of shorts for him. Katniss pulled on some pajama pants, and they quietly snuck down to the hall to the bathroom.

"I'll go after you," he whispered. She shook her head and went inside and held the door open for them. He slipped inside behind her. She grabbed wash cloths and handed them to him. He got them wet and then looked at her.

"What?" she whispered.

"Can I try something?" Peeta asked as he got close to her. She nodded her head. He leaned in and kissed her neck and put his hands on her hips. He hooked his fingers into her panties and pulled them down a little. He pulled back and looked at her. She was shocked. He pulled them down a little bit more until they fell.

He grabbed the wet washcloth and brought it down to her. He started washing her down there. Katniss' lost her breath in her throat. His eyes never leaving hers. He used his fingers to press into her.

"Is this ok?" he asked her huskily. She nodded her head again. Not able to speak.

Her breathing became heavy again and she closed her eyes. He pressed on her clit and gasped, trying to catch her breath. He leaned down into ear.

"Can I give you another orgasm tonight? Right here," he whispered. She kept breathing heavily. "Do you want one more?"

She nodded her head vigorously. He pushed her back to lean against the counter. "You just have to be quiet, ok?" he whispered. She nodded her head. "Hold on to me," he said. She nodded and grabbed his shoulders. He pushed her thighs apart slightly and went back to rubbing her clit.

Now this was exhilarating. He pushed his thumb on her clit and moved his finger between her lips for the first time. He found the spot where one day, he would push himself inside of her, and rubbed making her gasp and softly squeal. She squeezed him tightly and pulled him to her.

"Shhh. You can't do that. I'll have to stop if you make any noise," he whispered. She nodded her head and squeezed his shoulders harder as he moved his fingers again. He heard a low moan from deep in her throat.

He could tell her body was giving out because he felt her melting into him. "Put your arms around my neck," he told her as bent his head to kiss her neck. She wrapped her arms around his neck just as he sped up his movements. She gripped him so hard he wondered if she drew blood.

"Peeta," she half hissed, half moaned.

It was the most exhilarating feeling of giving her an orgasm. He wanted to give her orgasms more than he wanted them. He just had to rub a little more and she'd fall over the edge.

It was totally different like this. They weren't in a bed. They were in the bathroom, and they were standing up. She wasn't wearing any underwear. He didn't look down though. He wanted to so much, but he would never betray her trust like that.

"Peeta please. I'm so close," she whimpered. He kissed her neck and brought his lips to her ear.

"I know you are. Just let it go," he whispered. And she did. She pulled him so hard to her that he almost couldn't move his hand. He had his arm around her, and had he not been holding her, he knew she'd fall. Her body shook against him.

After a moment he pulled his hand out and threw the washcloth on the counter and wrapped both of his arms around her. He could feel her shaking. He kissed her neck and her jaw and held her.

"Did that feel good?" he asked her. She nodded her head. He reached behind her and turned the water on again and grabbed the other washcloth and got it wet again, without loosening his hold on her. He brought the wet cloth back down to her and started washing her again. She gasped.

"I'm just gonna wash you this time. I know you're sensitive down there right now," he told her. She nodded her head. He washed her gently.

When he was done and took her panties in his hand and held them down to his waist. She put her hand on his shoulders to steady herself as she stepped into them. Then he started pulling them up, and both of his hands pushed into the back of her panties and cupped her cheeks. Her breath hitched again.

He had never looked down to actually see her so exposed. But God was it a turn on to have just pulled Katniss Everdeen's panties off, and then put them on her. Another fantasy of his crossed off his huge bucket list.

He pulled his hands out from the back of her panties and pulled her to him, his hands kept low, half on her back half on her butt, and brought her forehead to his, while she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Just remember this, Katniss Everdeen. Once we get to District 13, we're going to be able to start exploring all the different areas of our relationship that life has to offer us. And I'm counting the days for that to happen love," Peeta told her. She hugged him tightly and buried her face in his neck.

"I'll take care of you when we leave. I promise. I'll always take care of you," he whispered.

The sun had just come up. Peeta made sure that Katniss got some sleep. They didn't get much. Katniss had just come out of the bathroom while Peeta had his back turned. She was watching him get dressed. Peeta turned around and blushed at her watching him.

"What?" he asked her. She walked over to stand in front of him. She looks at his face and reaches her hand up and cups his cheek. His breathing became heavier as he watched her. Waiting to see what she'd do next.

"I never appreciated how handsome you are," the words caught him by surprise. No one had ever called him handsome before. Sure, the Capitol did. But it was coming from lust. When Katniss said it, it was coming from love. It was coming from her heart. And it made his skip a few beats.

She ran her fingers across his jaw. His breath caught in his throat. Then she leaned up and kissed his jaw.

"How strong you are," his heart skipped a beat. He felt like the kid who was dying to talk to Katniss Everdeen. He like the kid who was hopelessly in love with her. She said something, that he had always wanted to hear from her. He knew…she loved him. He dreamt that this would happen…but he never thought it actually would.

"You've always been the only one I've ever noticed…even when I didn't realize it," she told him. He pulled her to him and kissed her. She was his. He pulled her to him and buried his face, taking a deep breath and smelling her shampoo.

"This will all be over soon," he promised her.

When they walked down the stairs dressed, they quietly hugged Prim and her mom. Not letting the mics hear a sound. They opened the door quietly as Haymitch came out. They waved goodbye and walked to the Justice Building, while Prim and her mom went to Gale's house.

"I won't give them the satisfaction of escorting me to my death by Peacekeepers. We're going to already be there. We'll be the one's waiting for them!" Katniss told them.

So, Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch sat on the stage with their feet dangling off just as the sun rose. Anyone who walked by just stopped and looked at them, shocked. But proud. They saw pride in their faces.

There was a lot of commotion at one point. They knew why, the Peacekeepers figured out that they weren't there. A Peacekeeper happened to come into the square and stopped when they saw them. He took off his helmet. It was Darius. He was smiling proudly.

"Commander Thread Sir. They haven't run away. I found them. They're on the stage of the Justice Building. Waiting for the Reaping, sir," Darius said proudly. He kissed his fingers and gave the three-finger salute and put his helmet back on.

"He's still a Peacekeeper," Peeta said, and smiled. A few minutes later Peacekeepers were surrounding the Square. That was fine, they weren't going anywhere. Crews were putting cameras into place. Putting ropes up. Setting chairs down. Everything to get ready. Commander Thread came storming up to them.

"Are you trying to be funny? What the hell are you doing?" Thread demanded.

"No, we don't think we're funny. We're just waiting for the Reaping to start. We aren't doing anything secretive. We walked ourselves up here. That's all that there is to it. But it's definitely NOT funny," Haymitch said. He was practically spitting venom as he breathed.

"Where are your families then?" Thread demanded.

"They're coming. Don't you worry about that. We just figured you'd get a little angry that you didn't get to escort us, so we just told them to be elsewhere-" Peeta told him.

"For when you got your bright pink panties in a twist about missing out on rubbing it in our faces that you got to walk us up here," Haymitch said. Thread was seething.

When people started entering the Square, they stood up and waited. Katniss didn't wait on the other side. She stood in the middle of Peeta and Haymitch, holding both of their hands. Effie was shocked when she came up to the stage and saw them standing there. Effie had to be careful of what she said and did.

"Welcome, welcome. Happy Hunger Games. And may the odds be ever in your favor," she said. She was trying to smile, but her usual pep was just not in it. "Today we celebrate the 75th anniversary and third Quarter Quell,"

"Now, before we begin, we have a very special film from the Capitol," Effie said, and the film started. It was the same every year. Katniss felt herself shake, but Peeta squeezed her hand.

"Get mad," Peeta said. You get mad, you get strong. Wipe your hands, shake it off.

"Then you stand," she told him. He smiled at her, and they looked back out to their District.

The film ended. Effie just cleared her throat.

"As always, ladies first," she said. Effie looked at them. Katniss was supposed to be on the other side by herself. But no one had made her move. Effie went and pulled out the only name in the glass bowl and brought it to the microphone and pulled it open.

"The female tribute, from District 12…Katniss Everdeen," Effie said. She stared at them. Katniss refused to move.

"Wonderful…and now for them men," Effie said and walked behind them to pull one of the slips from the bowl and walked back over to the microphone.

"The male tribute from District 12," she said as she pulled it open. "Haymitch Abernathy," Peeta was the first one to move and he turned to Effie.

"I volunteer as tribute," Peeta said. Haymitch jumped and grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back.

"No, I can't let you do that," Haymitch surprisingly choked out. Katniss started shaking.

"You can't stop me,"

"Peeta!"

"Let go!" Peeta said and pushed him back to where he was standing. They both squeezed Katniss' hands tight. They didn't move to either side of Effie. They remained where they were. Effie was a little awkward with all the changes.

"Very well!" she said and cleared her throat. "The tributes from District 12…Katniss Everdeen," she said and cleared her throat again.

"And Peeta Mellark," Peeta squeezed her hand really tight before she moved. He knew she was going to have an episode and refused to have it happen right now. Gale was the first one this time to raise his fingers. Katniss let out a sob before she could help it as everyone raised their fingers.

Peeta, Katniss and Haymitch raised their fingers back to them.

"Thank you. We love you to," Peeta said loud enough that the microphone picked his voice up. Katniss blew Prim a kiss.

I love you Katniss mouthed.

Fight for YOU Prim mouthed and pointed at her.

The Peacekeepers started to grab the three of them.

"But wait no!" Effie tried to say.

"We get to say goodbye!" Peeta said gruffly.

"New plan straight to the train," Thread told him. Once they were out of sight, Prim spun around and sobbed into Gale's chest. Gale dug his fingers into his eyes. Hazelle hugged Emily. It didn't matter that this wasn't the last time they saw them. It still hurt. The pain was still real. Pain like this would never go away.

The Peacekeepers were being rough with them. Thread was jerking Katniss around.

"You do realize that none of us are fighting you," Haymitch said. Peeta turned around to where Katniss was.

"Quit man handling her!" Peeta yelled. Thread yanked on him and spun Peeta around. "What are you honestly going to do to me? You wanna hit me? Explain that to the Capitol why I have a black eye. Just because you're head Peacekeeper here means jack shit out there. You still take your orders from Snow, and he didn't say you could hit any of us. Or kick us. He said escort them to the stage and take them right to the train. That's all you're good for," Peeta told him. Thread just stopped.

"I'm going into the arena. So is she. So back off of me, AND her!" Peeta said and pushed his chest out of his face. They threw Haymitch and Peeta onto the train. Thread pushed Katniss onto the train, but she spun around and got into Thread's face.

"You think you've won. You think you get the last laugh because I'm going into the arena, and Snow's gonna kill me," she seethed in his face. "Well think again. When you and I see each other again, it will be when you're on your knees, begging me to spare your life. I'll make you watch as each of your little minions here dies, knowing that you're going to be executed when they're all dead. Only, I'm not going to be the one to kill you. Gale is," Katniss said.

Before Thread could say anything back, Katniss spit in his face. Peeta yanked her back! Thread jumped at her right when the door slid shut. He banged on the train door. She walked right up to the glass and smiled, and then raised her hand and put her middle finger right in his face. The train zoomed off.

The three of them just stood there in the doorway, no one moving. Not knowing what to say. Haymitch cleared his throat.

"Well, sweetheart. Next time you see him you may want them to muzzle his face first. Because he will spit back at you," Haymitch said. Katniss turned her head. Haymitch put his hand on both of their shoulders.

"You two have out done yourselves. And I am a proud dad of both of you," Haymitch said. Peeta chuckled.

"You did great Katniss," Peeta said. They stood there for a minute, and then Katniss fell to her knees.

"Don't let them see you cry. Only cry when you get on the train,"

Peeta told her that just this morning as soon as they left the Victor's Village. She fell to her knees and started sobbing. Peeta bent down and scooped her into his arms.

"You did real good sweetheart," Haymitch told her.

"Get it all out on the train sweetheart. Wallow in it. Sob as long and as hard as you can. Because you won't have another chance to. A few tears here and there when you're in bed at night. But get it all out on the train before we get to the Capitol. You don't need a speech of what we have to do. You already know. So those couple of days are yours," Haymitch told her.

"Come on sweetheart," Peeta said as he scooped her into his arms effortlessly.

"It'll be alright Katniss," Effie said and covered her mouth. Peeta brought her down to his room on the train. He knew she didn't want to be in her room.

"I don't want to ever be in my own room. All it reminds me of was how alone I felt. Or how angry I was. I just wanna stay with you in your room," Katniss told him the night before.

Peeta laid her on the bed and got on the bed himself. He pulled her to his chest and let her sob. "Everything's going to be alright Katniss," Peeta told her. Effie pulled their door shut and turned to Haymitch.

"The least you could have done was warn me about all the changes you made. I was completely thrown off my game!" Effie hissed at him. Haymitch just smiled.

"Get me a drink wench. I haven't had a drink in three months," Haymitch told her.

They sat in bed for a while, just until all her tears were dried out. "You did really awesome on stage. I know how hard that was for you. It was hard for me to. I only got through it just because I kept telling myself that this wasn't the last time I was going to see them," Peeta told her quietly, so the mics didn't hear him. Katniss sat up.

"I don't know how I'm gonna do this," she whispered. He smiled and wiped away her tears.

"We'll do it together. Right now, all we have to worry about is the couple days on the train. That's all. That's it!" Peeta said.

The days on the train were spent very quietly. Surprisingly, Katniss, Peeta, Haymitch and Effie always found themselves in the dining car or the living room car, spending time in silence. No one needed to say too much. There was some conversation here and there, but it wasn't needed. It was just two days to rest up. Rest up for the next few weeks of pure torture. Where all eyes were going to be on them.

Katniss stayed glued to Peeta. Didn't go anywhere without each other. Katniss told him the night before why she wouldn't let him go.

"The first time in the Games, after seeing each other for the first time, I left my room and came back. I decided to leave again and come find you and the door was locked. Someone locked me in, and I'm terrified that if I'm in a room by myself, someone will lock me back in it. Please don't go too far from me," she whispered into his neck.

So, the only door that ever separated them was the bathroom door. They were a steady rock to each other, keeping them grounded. It was what got them through the day.

The last morning on the train, they knew before breakfast would be over, they'd be in the Capitol. Effie brought Katniss into her room, with Peeta of course, and started putting makeup on Katniss.

"I'm not going to overdo it I promise. I just want to hide the dark circles. I want to just give you some color because you're looking awfully pale. We need you to look strong and vibrant," Effie said.

"So, no crazy colors?" Katniss asked. Effie rolled her eyes.

"Be quiet and let me work," Effie told her. True to her word, there was nothing outrageous. Her skin did look radiant. A little like she was glowing. She had rosy cheeks. She had eyeliner on to just make her eyes pop just a little.

"Thank you," she said and hugged her.

"Now, put your hair in a braid and you'll be camera ready. And you don't even have to smile this time. You get to be your natural grouchy self. No acting required," Effie said sincerely. It made Katniss smile and laugh. Peeta and Haymitch burst out laughing.

"Thank you, Effie," she said and hugged her again.

They ate their breakfast just in time for the train to stop.

"Alright now. I'll walk out first, then Haymitch, and then you both. Look straight ahead and no waving. No making eye contact. Hold tightly to each other," Effie said. She walked out, smiling and waving. Haymitch walked out as usual, carrying a flask and looking sullen.

When Peeta and Katniss walked out, there was sobbing. He had his arm wrapped around her shoulders, and hers around his waist, leaning into him. He was guiding her to the car.

"Katniss how do you feel?"

"Will you still get married before the Quell?"

"Who is Haymitch going to choose to save?"

"Peeta how do you feel?"

"Katniss which dress was your favorite?"

"Did you cry when you heard the news?"

"Which District did you want to honeymoon in?"

"What is your strategy this year?"

"Were you planning on having children?"

"Well, that wasn't so bad," Effie said cheerfully when the car door shut. The three just glared at her. "Well, it wasn't. It could have been worse," she said. Katniss leaned heavily into Peeta.

"I wanna punch them all in the face," Katniss said.

"You're really good at spitting. You could have just done that," Haymitch told her. Katniss smiled. He leaned forward, and the other's leaned in as well. "Game faces on. I know you can do it," Haymitch told them and then sat back. "I've never gotten to say this before. But be yourself Katniss," he smiled.

Effie grabbed Peeta and Haymitch's hand.

"We're a team. We're a very strong team," Effie said. Peeta leaned over and kissed her cheek.

"And as my escort, and team member. I need you to give me anxiety meds so I can calm down while I'm stuck by myself for 4 hours with my prep team while they cry and I have to comfort them," Katniss told her, making the other three laugh.

The anxiety meds did help. She could lean back in her chair and tune her prep team out. She followed Effie's advice and only thought about nice things. They kept her calm. If her mind started wandering, then she would sit up and start talking with her prep team. Once she couldn't handle them anymore, she'd just lay back and think of nice things again.

Finally, Cinna came in later. "You doing ok?" he asked and hugged her.

"Just make my prep team stop crying," she grumbled. Cinna laughed.

"Well, it's just me and you the rest of the afternoon," Cinna told her. She hugged him again and didn't let go for a while.

"Remember this. You and Cinna are gonna have a long friendship. A real friendship, with no rules holding you back," Peeta told her and kissed her head.

The ate lunch together, talked and laughed. Cinna made her feel at ease. Cinna told her stories about him and his twin sister, and she told him stories about her and Prim. She even told him stories about her father. And those stories were reserved for only a select few.

When it was time, Cinna dropped her off to get on her chariot."Now remember what I said. No waving and smiling this time. I want you to look straight ahead as if the audience and this event are beneath you," Cinna reminded her. She smiled brightly.

"Finally. I finally get to act like me in front of the Capitol," she said. Cinna have a real, huge smile and hugged her tightly.

"There's my Girl on Fire," he said. He kissed her cheek, handed her the control and said goodbye. She saw all the chariots, and different Victor's. Standing around, laughing, hugging, telling jokes.

"Now. We don't want you having any association with them this night. You're going to walk past all of them. But, just like last time, everyone's going to come to you. You're the shiny new Victor," Haymitch told her.

She saw Cashmere, Gloss, Brutus and Enobaria standing in a circle of other Victors from their District. Katniss walked by all the chariots. She could hear a few whistles, and heard someone say Girl on Fire, and some laughing. But she already knew that was going to happen. They were taunting her. She got to her chariot and started petting her horse.

"Katniss," she heard her name being called. She looked over and couldn't help the eye roll. "Mrs. Everdeen. We meet again," Blight said as he stood in front of her.

"Is there something that you want?" she asked.

"I just came over to say hello. And to say how absolutely hot you look. Completely stunning," Blight said, looking her up and down. She was totally uncomfortable. Blight made her sick.

"Well thank you. I'm sure Peeta will be here any moment. I should go see what's keeping him," Katniss said and tried to walk away, but he stood in front of her. He chuckled.

"See you later," he said, and went back to his own chariot. She shook her head.

"Katniss," someone else called. She shook her head. But she knew that voice. She kept her head down to take a deep breath, so she didn't jump into his arms.

"Hello Finnick," she said with no emotion in her voice. She tried not to laugh at his outside. Just a golden net covering his groin. He comes up closely and holds out the infamous sugar cube.

"Want a sugar cube? They're supposed to be for the horses, but who cares? They've got years to eat sugar. Whereas you and I…well, if we see something sweet, we better grab it quick.," he said, getting even closer.

"No thanks. But I would love to borrow that outfit someday," he chuckled and looked down at her.

"You're absolutely terrifying me in that getup. What happened to the pretty little-girl dresses?"

"I outgrew them," she says, annoyed. He pressed against her, playing with the collar on her shoulder.

"You certainly did," he said and took a small step back.

"It's too bad about this Quell thing. Now you, you could have made out like a bandit in the Capitol. Jewels, money, anything you wanted," he told her, making her roll her eyes.

"Well, I don't like jewels and I have more money than I need so…what did you do with all your wealth anyway?" she asked him. She hated having these same conversations over and over again.

"Oh, I haven't dealt in anything as common as money in years," Finnick said, like it was beneath him.

"Well then how do people play for the pleasure of your company?" she asked. He took that step closer again, the ones that always made her uncomfortable. Well, this one wasn't. She was trying to make it seem like it was.

"With secrets," he whispered. He leans closer so his lips are almost touching mine. "What about you, Girl on Fire? Have any secrets worth my time?" he asked her. She leaned her head back and smiled.

"I'm an open-book. Everybody seems to know my secrets before I know them myself," she said sadly. He leans back now.

"Unfortunately, I think that's true," Finnick says. Loud whistling distracts them. Johanna is cat calling Peeta as he walks in.

"There's the hot baker boy," Johanna calls out. Finnick leans back into her ear.

"I'm sorry you had to cancel your wedding. I know how devastating that much be for you," he says and finally takes that step back, and puts the sugar cube into his mouth and smiles at her. She puts her hand over her mouth to stop from smiling back at him. "Have a good day," he says. He turns around and nods.

"Peeta,"

"Finnick," Peeta says and turns back to her. "What he want?"

"He offered me sugar and wanted to know all my secrets,' Katniss said. She gulped on her words.

Peeta smiled. "He'll have to get in line,"

Katniss clears her throat. It was supposed to be a joke, but there was truth behind that joke. He wanted to be the one she shared her secrets with. Peeta's eyes went wide as he saw her face change.

Before he could do anything there was a water bottle that was thrown between them. They looked over and saw that Johanna was standing all the way at her chariot and chucked it at them. Peeta knew that she saw the look on her face.

"Whoops. I thought if I threw water at you, the fire would burn out. Guess I should try opening the bottle next time," she smirked and winked. It wasn't her best. But she needed something quick.

Peeta took her hand and helped her up onto to the chariot.

"If only one of us had won, do you think we would have ended up like all of them?" Peeta asked.

"My family probably would have been dead already because I couldn't live up to Snow's expectations," she said and looked at him. "You might be the one Victor he leaves alone. There's something innocent and untouchable about you. No one could tarnish that," Katniss said. He tilted his head and smiled at her. He reached down and linked their fingers together.

The horses started pulling their chariots. Katniss and Peeta glared. Not looking at anyone. "Just know, that I would do this a million times over, if it meant I'd always be here with you," Peeta said, not looking at her. But Katniss turned to him.

"Kiss me," Katniss said. Peeta leaned and swooped her up and started kissing her passionately. It was the most passionate kiss that the Capitol had ever seen. Peeta was biting her lips roughly, pushing his tongue in her mouth. If they weren't in front of the Capitol, she'd probably be begging him to put his hands between her legs and make her feel good.

She moaned into his mouth. "The button," he panted, biting her lip. He stood back, dazed. Both of their lips were swollen. Everyone was screaming with insanity. "Press it," Peeta said. They stood facing front again and their outfits started burning. If the screaming was loud when they were kissing, it was ten times louder.

"That, Katniss Everdeen is the kiss that the Capitol will never forget," Peeta said. She turned and used her thumb to wipe off a little lipstick on him. For the most part her makeup can't smear. But the way that they just smashed their faces together for almost a minute, it had to smear it somehow.

"I'm going to remind you this moment when we get to 13," he said. She looked over at him and lost it and started chuckling. He shook her arm.

"We're too close. Game face on," Peeta said. She shook it off and then stood up.

Not only were their clothes on fire, but now her face was. She locked eyes with Snow and stared him down. She was going to win. He thought he was so smug. That he won. He was sadly mistaken. Peeta stepped over to her and pulled her face away from looking at him and kissed her, with his own eyes locking with Snow's and glaring. By the time they pulled away, their chariot was stopping to listen to Snow's speech.

Their clothes were still on fire. They didn't want the flames to go out. But this time, Cinna had another surprise. Katniss stood in the middle of the chariot, and Peeta got behind her and put one of his hands over hers, holding on to the rail, and the other on her stomach. Katniss hit another button, and the flames burned higher and surrounded them. Snow couldn't get the audience to quiet down.

"Well, I guess we're not the little kids who had their first kiss on the Games. No more star-crossed lovers," Katniss said. He put his head down to kiss her shoulder.

"We just got rid of the Star-Crossed part of the name. We're not innocent anymore for the Capitol. They see us as lovers now," Peeta told her. She turned her head to look at him. One side of her mouth curled into a smile. A firey type of smile. They looked back up at snow. She could see them on one of the screens. They did look like lovers now. They were hot, sexy.

Oh Snow. What did you think was going to happen?

After a few minutes, the crowd settled down.

"Welcome. Victors! We welcome you- "

"AAACHOO," someone sneezes. It was so quiet, that just one loud sneeze could be heard through the whole City Circle. They looked around to see which Victor it came from. They weren't sure.

"We salute, your courage. And your sacrifice- "

"AACHOO!" they sneezed again. They looked around and they saw it at the same time.

"Oh my God," Katniss said and covered her mouth. It was Johanna. She was sniffing and wiping at her nose.

"What is she doing?" Peeta asked. Katniss shook her head.

"We welcome you, to the 75th annual Hunger Games, and the third Quart- "

"AACHHOO!" She sneezed again. All the Victors covered their mouths to try to stop laughing. But the crowed just kept right on laughing. Johanna sneezed again.

"My damn stylist! I told her to not- "she sneezed again. "Use that stupid thread," sneeze "because I'm allergic," she sneezed again. No one was paying attention anymore. Her voice was echoing throughout the City Circle.

"HAPPY HUNGER GAMES, VICTORS!" Snow said with his icy voice. All 24 Victors looked up at him. He was staring at all of them. "And may the odds…be ever…in your- "

"AAACHOOO!" Johanna gave another loud sneeze. Chaff laughed loudly. The Morphling from 6 started laughing, but then tripped out of his chariot. Finnick hopped off his to help him back up. Johanna sneezed again.

"GET THIS DAMN THING OFF ME!" Johanna screamed and Blight unzipped the back and she started ripping it off of her. Finnick barely had the Morphling back in his place before the horses started moving. He ran and jumped onto 5's chariot, and then jumped down from the front to hop back on his own.

Johanna grabbed her outfit and tossed it back to 8's chariot. "THROW THAT THING INTO THE FIRE!" Johanna said. The male from 8 threw it back to 9. The female from 9 threw it to 10. 10 to 11, and 11 to 12. Katniss raised it up and let the fire burn it. It flew to the ground, still on fire.

"Well, Snow's gonna love what happened here today," Peeta said. Katniss nodded her head. Peeta helped her down from the chariot and Haymitch appeared, clapping.

"I don't know what the hell that was, but that was a Victor parade that I will never forget," Haymitch said. Seeder walked up to them and hugged Katniss.

"It's good to see you again darling," Seeder said. She went to hug Peeta, and before she had a moment to realize was happening, Chaff grabbed Katniss and dipped her, laying a huge kiss on her. Before she was able to push him, he stood her right back up. She smacked his chest and he just laughed.

"I LOVE the Girl on Fire!" Chaff laughed loudly.

"I think she loves you to Chaff," Haymitch laughed, patting him on the back.

"No, she doesn't Haymitch," Peeta said sternly.

"Will you leave her alone Chaff?" Marlah asked. She went over and hugged Katniss and Peeta. "I'm sorry for him being so disgusting," Marlah told them. Before anything else could be said, the Peacekeepers were pushing everyone to the elevators. They didn't like the camaraderie of the Victors.

"Oh God," Katniss said when Johanna came in. Totally naked. Except her skin was all red and blotchy.

"I told that stupid cow to not use that thread. I've said it every fucking year. And what does she do? Use the God damned thread I'm allergic to!" Johanna shouts.

"I'm sorry. She has something clogged in her ears," Haymitch says and hugs her.

"Yeah, and we know who's jizz is clogging up her ears," Johanna said, pretending to make a beard. Meaning Snow. Katniss mouth falls open in shock and looks over at Peeta.

Jizz? She mouths. He just shakes his head quickly. That was the last thing he wanted her to ask out loud. She'd be mortified and never hear the end of it. He mentally made a list of all the jokes he had to explain to her so she wouldn't look so…pure.

The images of her below him, writhing in pleasure from her orgasm came to mind. But he shook his head. Not in an elevator full of people. The elevator shook a little and Johanna pretended to fall into Peeta.

"Whoops. We always seem to be bumping into each other," Johanna said.

"I think this is your floor!" Katniss snapped. Johanna ignored her, and just winked at him.

"Thanks. Let's do it again some time," Johanna said as she left. They stopped on the 11th floor and then went right to their own. They walked in, and Peeta grabbed Katniss' hand. They saw the Avox. And it wasn't Darius. Peeta kissed her cheek.

"Ok you two. Go get that makeup off your face, and both of you come back for dinner. We're gonna start going through these Victors one by one," Haymitch said. Peeta took her hand and led her down to her room. They pulled some of her clothes out of the drawers and brought them down to his room and closed the door.

"How angry do you think Snow is right now?" Katniss asked as Peeta started helping her pull the crown out of her hair.

"Probably has hot as fire," Peeta said. Katniss nodded her head. "There's never been a Tribute Parade quite like that before," Katniss turned and looked at him.

"What do you think Snow's going to do about it?" she asked. Peeta hugged her as she started shaking. Everything just got out of hand out there. Victors started fighting back in front of everyone. There was nothing Snow could do.

"All he's going to do is send us into the Hunger Games," Peeta said and kissed her cheek. He helped her unzip her dress and she walked towards the bathroom and then stopped.

"Sit in the doorway," Katniss said. He knew why she was saying that. She was afraid it would shut and leave her in there by herself. He sat down sideways in the doorway and put his head down while Katniss undressed and got into the shower.

"Do you have any idea how long it takes to wash this makeup off? It's literally caked on," Katniss said as she vigorously scrubbed herself.

"Just be careful or you'll look like Johanna. All red and splotchy," Peeta laughed. Katniss growled.

"So, you were looking at her?" she asked. Peeta cleared his throat.

"She was kind of in my face," Peeta said. After about ten minutes she shut the water off and grabbed her towel. Peeta stood up and handed her something to wear and she dressed in the shower. They switched spots so he could shower, and then they went out to dinner. Cinna and Portia were there now.

"You looked amazing," Portia cheered when she saw them.

"Were we supposed to be that on fire?" Katniss asked as she sat down next to Peeta. They all laughed.

"You were supposed to be sizzling," Cinna said.

"We're done with the innocent boy and girl. It's time you both grew up," Haymitch said, and then looked at Effie. "Which is why you're not escorting them everywhere like you did last year. They're with adults now. They're already the youngest Victors here. You're not going to draw any more attention to it by walking them to class," Haymitch said. She just rolled her eyes at him.

"They're 17," she corrected him. He turned to Peeta and Katniss.

"This is a completely different Game we're playing. You know your opponents. And you know what they can do. So, the first thing that you have to do when you go down there, is make some allies," Haymitch said.

"Ok that's easy," Peeta said. Haymitch held up his hand.

"Wait. You're not the problem," Haymitch said, pointing to Katniss.

"No!"

So that was how the argument went. Katniss was bored already. She was sick and tired of having fake arguments and plans. They had to so Snow could hear them and always know what they're doing.

So, they argued about making allies. Everyone coming to Haymitch's defense saying this was the best thing to do.

Then they sat in the living room and went over every single Victor, and they spoke about all their strengths and weaknesses. Then they were dismissed to go to bed.

Katniss held tightly to him that night.

"I never want to be back in this building ever again," Katniss told Peeta. He nodded.

"I know. I feel the same way," Peeta said as he handed her sleeping pills, and took his own.

"Can I sleep with you every night?" Katniss asked. Peeta chuckled.

"I hope you do. Because I want to spend every possible minute of the rest of my life with you," Peeta said. She looked up at him and kissed him. Last time she kept shutting him out, making him sleep by himself. Why does he love her? She just couldn't understand it. But she didn't try to, as sleep took her.

They were woken up by Effie the next morning. They slowly got dressed and slowly ate breakfast. "Are you trying to get there late?" Effie asked.

"Yes," both Katniss and Peeta said. They looked at each other and smiled.

"Alright. Remember, both of you. Throw out the rule from last year about not showing your strength. Show it. Show them just how powerful you really are. How valuable you are. And get to know them. Make allies. They may just save your life in the arena," Haymitch told them as the elevator shut and brought them down to the new Training Center.

As soon as they walked in, they saw that everyone was there this time. The male tribute from District 5 was vomiting. Katniss and Peeta looked around. The Careers were trying to be intimidating, as usual.

"And here I thought Cashmere and I were best friends," Katniss said.

"I think she does like you. But we're in the arena," Peeta said. They went to the center of the room where the different blocks were, and Katniss just plopped down on one. "Are you going to go try out a station?" Peeta asked.

Katniss looked around. She was already sick and tired of being down here. She stared at him for a moment and then stomped over to archery. She grabbed the bow and went inside the room and went at it. Shooting every orange hologram. When it was done, she didn't even notice and hit restart. She went after them again. Pretending every one of them was Snow.

She did five rounds before she just stood there, panting and completely out of breath. She heard clapping and turned. All 22 tributes and Peeta were staring at her through the glass, watching. She threw the bow and arrows down and came out of the room and put her hands on her knees.

"Here," Peeta said and handed her a water bottle. She gladly took it and guzzled it down and handed it back to him. Everyone was staring at her.

"Haymitch told me to show everyone what I can do. That's it," Katniss said and walked back to the center of the room. The Victors who were in on the plan just eyed Peeta. This wasn't good.

Johanna went over to where she was to pick up her ax. "Why are you naked?" Katniss snapped. Johanna laughed.

"I put this cream all over my body because of my allergic reaction. Clothes are too constricting. My skin needs to breathe," she said and walked away. Peeta went and sat next to her.

"Are you ok?" Peeta asked. Katniss nodded her head, she looked over at the Gamemakers. Complete idiots who think killing children is fun. Watching people get murdered is fun.

"I'm bored," Katniss said, still staring at them.

"Why don't I like it any time you say you're bored?" Peeta asked. She didn't even turn her head.

"MR. HEAVENSBEE!" Katniss yelled. Peeta tried to stop her, but she was walking over to the balcony, waving. "Remember me? You danced with me on our Victory Tour," Katniss said as she got to the wall to look up at Plutarch.

"Yes, I do remember Mrs. Everdeen," Plutarch said. It was funny to watch him actually be surprised.

"How are you?" she asked him.

"I'm very well. And yourself?"

"Pretty good. I can't complain. Had a really good breakfast. You can't beat Capitol food," she said, making a couple Gamemakers laugh. She tilted her head and looked up. She tilted it the other way. She stepped back and squinted her eyes. She bent down and took off her shoe, and then tossed it up and had it hit the forcefield. The shoe went flying backwards. That's when Katniss saw that everyone was watching her, again.

Katniss laughed and turned back to the Gamemakers. "That's funny. They put that up because of me. Last year I shot an arrow at you guys. Well, no, not at you guys. I shot it at the pig. Well, no, technically I shot it at the apple that was in the pigs mouth. And I never do miss a shot," she said and winked. The Gamemakers were all laughing.

"I can't do that again though. It's so last year," she said and waved her hand. "Hey, I know, would any of you Gamemakers like to come down here and I can teach you how to shoot? May come in handy one day if you ever find yourself in the Hunger Games," she said, making them laugh louder.

"What the hell is she doing?" Finnick whispered to Peeta.

"Yeah…I don't know," Peeta said.

"Well, if anyone changes their mind, let me know. I'm here all week," she said and went to walk away but then stopped. "Well actually I'm here for two weeks," she joked and turned around and started walking back to the group and stopped right in front of them to pick up her shoe.

"I need a new shoe," she said, and then spun around. "Can someone go ask Cinna for a new shoe?" she asked the Gamemakers.

"Or Portia?...even Effie. She'll be REALLY angry if she's sees me out here not dressed like a proper lady with two shoes on at all times," Katniss said. The Gamemakers couldn't stop laughing.

"OH! Sponsors! Someone go ask Haymitch to get a sponsor to buy me a new shoe, and you guys could throw down little parachutes down. Get the Hunger Games started early," Katniss said. She shrugged and threw her shoe over her shoulder, and then bent down and took the other one off, tossing it away. She turned back to everyone.

"Are you finished?" Peeta asked. She took a deep breath and let it out dramatically.

"Yeah, I got nothing else. I don't know why Haymitch thinks I can't be funny. Because those idiots," she said, pointing her thumb over her shoulder and waving to the Gamemakers, who waved back, "They think I'm hysterical," Katniss said.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Peeta asked. He realized what he said and just stood there.

"You do know that only one of us is going to be alive in a few weeks from now, right? 23 of us will be killed," Gloss asked.

"Sorry?" Katniss asked Peeta. He dug his fingers into his eyes. Everyone started going back to what they were doing, and Katniss stared at Peeta and put her finger to her lips. Her stomach felt queasy.

"I'll be right back," she said and gave Peeta a fake smile. She turned around and calmly walked into the bathroom and threw up. Not a lot, just some. She looked at her bracelet and glared.

"When we go to the Justice Building were breaking our watches. But when we get on the train, Effie has a bracelet for Katniss to wear. At the same time every morning, you're going to start feeling a little queasy. It's nothing to make a big deal about. Be discreet. Smile and walk away. Sometimes you'll just sit there. Sometimes you'll gag. And sometimes you'll throw up. Neither of you make a big deal about it. Every once in a while, I want you to touch your stomach. Not many times. Every once in a while, Peeta touches your stomach. You have to be hiding it, so it has to be so subtle so when they hear you announce it, that it clicks with everyone that they saw the signs and didn't realize it,"

She took out the little toothbrush that Cinna had discreetly hidden away, and she brushed her teeth and came back out, smiling. Peeta just shook his head.

"Are you thinking more clearly now?" he asked. She tilted her head and smiled. "What?" she leaned into his ear.

"Now Haymitch can't get mad. We'll just chalk it up to hormones," Katniss said and pulled back, laughing. Peeta just shook his head.

"I…don't even know what to say," he said and laughed. She plopped down on the blocks again and pushed him.

"Go make some friends," Katniss told him, and he walked away to join Brutus. She sat there and kept to herself until she saw Wiress and Beetee. She went over and stayed with them for a little while. Talking about survival skills. They talked about technical things that Katniss was so lost about. She leaned forward at one point to look like she was showing them something.

"Thank you Beetee," Katniss whispered. He was the reason why this whole plan was working. She pulled back and he smiled and slightly nodded his head.

She went over to the knot tying station and waited for Finnick. And she wasn't disappointed when he put his arms around her. He jumped and he laughed.

"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry," he laughed. She glared at him. He smiled and sat down on the table. He had such a handsome smile. She couldn't wait till she got to see him smile more. And it was no wonder that girls fell all over him. He was a charmer. She used to find it grotesque until she got to know him. Now, she loved his charm.

"Let me show you, the best knot to know in the arena," he said. She continued to glare at him. He looked up and laughed. "Don't look at me look at the knot," he worked the knot around, so it made a noose. He put it over his head and pretended to strangle himself and then demonstrated when they die.

"Funny," Katniss said. He handed the rope to her.

"So are you today. Wanna take me for a walk?" he asked. She chuckled and just walked away.

Then she went over to Mags. Mags sat with her and taught her how to make a fish hook out of a few different things. She never got a chance to know this woman. She had sacrificed her life for her and Peeta. So, they could keep on fighting. So, they could fight a war. She gave up her life-

She felt something stab her leg. Mags had stabbed her with a hook. She looked up and Mags smiled at her. Mags stabbed her to get her out of her thoughts. She was an amazing woman. No wonder Finnick loved her so much.

Lunch was called then and by the time she got in there, the guys had moved all the tables to make one large table. 24 Victors sitting together.

Katniss sat between Peeta and Finnick, and Finnick secretly put his hand under the table and squeezed her thigh. She smiled but didn't look at him. The Victors laughed and made jokes. She hoped that they could do this when the war was over. All of the Victors could sit together and laugh.

By the time they got back up to the Penthouse they were exhausted.

"Where are your shoes?" Effie demanded.

"They're in the Training Center. One's just sitting there and the other got fried by the forcefield," Katniss said dryly.

"Why?" Portia asked.

"Because she threw it at the Gamemakers," Haymitch said, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"No, I didn't throw it at them. I threw it up into the force field. I wanted to see what was shimmery," Katniss clarified.

"I hear you've turned into a comedian," Haymitch said. Katniss shrugged.

"It's really hard trying to keep the audience laughing. I'll go back to being sullen and grouchy tomorrow," Katniss said. Cinna walked in then and stopped and looked at her feet.

"Where are your shoes?" Cinna asked.

"It got fried," Katniss said and hissed.

"Well, you must have done something right. Because half the tributes want you as an ally,"

"Oh, they saw her shoot. And she was on fire," Peeta said as waved his hands and sat on the couch.

"Look who else is a comedian," Katniss said.

"Well sweetheart, you have your pick of the litter,"

"I want Wiress and Beetee,"

"Johanna calls them Nuts and Volts,"

"Well wait a minute, that's good. Who else?"

"Mags," Katniss said. Peeta rolled his eyes and stood up and started pacing. "Fine then no one Peeta!" Katniss snapped at him.

"I'll tell them you're still deciding," Haymitch said as he walked away.

Katniss and Peeta looked at each other. "Maybe Cashmere and Gloss? You liked Cashmere when we were in District 1," Peeta offered.

"I thought about her. But the second I walked out of the elevator in the City Circle, she glared at me and I knew, we weren't friends," Katniss said.

"ATTENTION ALL VICTORS," They heard someone yell. They got up and opened their glass door and looked over the balcony. Victors started coming out onto their balcony's.

"VICTORS FROM ALL THE HUNGER GAMES! THIS WILL BE OUR NIGHTLY RITUAL. TONIGHTS CHALLENGE IS TO GRAB SOMEONES HAND, AND RUN AROUND THE BALCONY!" they heard Finnick scream. They looked over the balcony and saw down on the fourth floor, Finnick and Ron running around holding hands. Victors from all the different floors were laughing and then started joining in on the fun.

"Is he insane?" Katniss asked. What was he honestly thinking? Weren't they just making Snow angrier by doing these things? Were they pushing their luck on how much Plutarch could keep them all wrangled.

"I think so. So, let's join em," Peeta said as he held out his hand.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Katniss said and put her hand in Peeta's, and they went running around the balcony. Her and Peeta laughed while they ran around the balcony. For a moment, she forgot she was in the Capitol. She forgot she was going into the Hunger Games. She only felt like she was with her friends. With her family. These were the good memories that she would take with her.

Finnick announced that that was all for the night, and to be ready for the next one tomorrow.

Katniss and Peeta collapsed on the couch.

"That was the best thing," Peeta laughed and held his stomach.

"It's nice to see them happy," Portia whispered to Haymitch. He nodded his head. They calmed their heartbeats and then Katniss yawned. Peeta held out his hand to her and they walked into his room and got into bed.

They got comfortable under the covers, and Katniss fidgeted around and took off her pajama pants. Peeta raised an eyebrow and she leaned over and touched the hem of his shirt and slowly started pulling it up. He took the que and pulled it over his head. She touched the waist band of his pants and he started pulling them off.

She grabbed the sleeping pills and they each took them and fell asleep.

The next day they went to training, and Katniss sat back on the blocks again. "Johanna's wearing clothes again. I guess her rash must have cleared up," Katniss said.

"Or it's just really cold," Peeta said. They looked at each other and smiled. Katniss just watched everyone for a few minutes until Finnick hopped up on the block she was sitting at.

"Alright guys. Let's just take minute from what we're doing. Come over here," Finnick said and waved them all over. "Ok. Yesterday was fun. We all kinda did our thing, tried to intimidate each other. But let's face facts. We already know what everyone else can do," Finnick said and pointed.

"Cashmere and Gloss excel at knife throwing. You won't see it coming. And they're brother and sister. Unbreakable bond," Finnick said and turned the other way.

"Enobaria may be small, but that woman dominates like a man in hand-to-hand combat," Finnick said. Enobaria nodded her head. "And then the whole teeth thing. Just don't get to close to me," Finnick told her.

"Brutus is a machine, and his skill is the spear," he said and turned again.

"Wiress and Beetee can take us out with one electrical current by whatever contraption they built, and we'll be dead before we know it," Finnick said. He was going in order of Districts. He pointed to Mags.

"And this lovely lady over here is gonna be chowing down on food while you all are gonna be starving and die from hunger. And me, well, we all know that my Trident isn't just my biggest weapon," he said and smiled. He winked at Katniss. He talked about District 5, then went to 6.

"We're gonna be looking everywhere for these two, and they're gonna be hiding in plain sight. And they'll just drop down on us when we least expect it," Finnick said.

"Blight and Johanna are killers with their axes," he spoke about 9, 10 and 11. "Now Mr. Mellark, don't let this young man fool you, he is freakishly strong. Brutus, watch out. He gave me a run for my money yesterday," Finnick laughed and then turned to Katniss.

"Alright, alright, it's the Girl on Fire. She can kill you with a bow and arrow. And she fights to the death for the one's she loves. WE GET IT! We all know what our strengths are. Why are we even doing this?" Finnick asked. No one said a word. Katniss looked down and blushed when Finnick said that about her. Peeta nudged her shoulder, making her look up at him. He smiled at her.

"Thank you," he whispered, making her blush again.

"I've gotten to know all of you in this room for the past ten years. I don't feel like trying to intimidate you all. All I need to do is smile," he said and smiled. "I'd rather use my time to laugh and make jokes. So. Who wants to make up a Victors Dance and perform it instead of doing our individual assessments?" Finnick said. He got a couple of takers. He went into the middle of the floor and had Blight and Mags start moving. Seeder joined right in, as well as Chaff, Cecelia and Woof.

"We should just take Mags and just pick her up and carry her. Like a mosh pit," Katniss said dryly, getting a couple of people to laugh.

"Alright I'm bored. Let's do it," Cashmere said and grabbed Gloss' hand and joined in. Katniss kissed Peeta's cheek.

"I have to go to the bathroom," she said and walked away. She stayed in the bathroom for a few minutes. Not getting sick, and then walked out. Everyone had joined in on the fun except for Johanna. Katniss went and sat back down. It was actually fun watching them. There was just so much noise that you couldn't really hear much.

"I see it in your eyes. You've had sex," Johanna sang in her ear. Katniss whipped her head around to stare at her. "No wait. You're still a virgin. But you've done something with that boy. I want details. Spill," Johanna said. They both looked up when they heard Gloss laughing hysterically.

"I…no we haven't," Katniss said. Johanna bounced in her seat.

"I am so proud of you for fooling around. You have to tell me because I have to make sure he's doing it right. Did he give you a good orgasm?" Johanna asked. Katniss blushed and was super embarrassed.

"Will you shut up?" she hissed. Johanna laughed. They sat there watching for a moment and then Johanna leaned forward again.

"I've missed you Brainless," Johanna said. Katniss bit her lips to keep from smiling, but she couldn't help it.

"This is so juvenile," Johanna said. Katniss turned and looked at her.

"Well, if you can't beat them, join them," Katniss said and her and Johanna joined the group.

This dance was just the stupidest thing that could ever happen. Finnick was in charge, and he was somehow going to showcase a different dance move from each District.

Somewhere along the line someone mentioned something about someone doing a handstand. And then all hell broke loose. Peeta was the first one to jump up and do it, walking around on his hands. He was actually really good. Finnick, Gloss and Blight jumped right in and started doing it. Then everyone was distracted with a handstand competition.

They could barely eat lunch because of all the excitement.

Their training days were so much more enjoyable that Katniss thought they ever could be. It was like being on vacation with your friends.

Katniss still fought alliances every step of the way.

"NO! I'm not doing it. I don't mind having fun with them. But I don't trust them. I don't even like them. It's just that I'm stuck with them for now. I'm not doing it. It's me and Peeta," she yelled at Haymitch.

After dinner they heard Finnick calling all the Victors again.

"FOR TONIGHT, VICTORS. IT'S A SCAVENGER HUNT. EACH PERSON MUST FIND THE ITEM AND ON GO, WE'LL THROW IT OVER THE BALCONY!" Finnick yelled. Katniss turned around.

"HAYMITCH! This is definitely something you wanna do," Katniss called to him. Haymitch came out and leaned against the balcony.

"ALRIGHT VICTORS. FIND ME SOMETHING GREEN!" Finnick yelled. Katniss and Peeta went running into the room looking for something green. Katniss grabbed a small green vase. Peeta grabbed some green decorative box. Haymitch grabbed a green chair. Katniss and Peeta burst out laughing as they all brought their items out to the balcony.

"I feel bad for the person who has to clean this up," Peeta said.

"I don't," both Katniss and Haymitch said at the same time.

"ALRIGHT VICTORS, LET SEE YOUR SOMETHING GREEN!" Finnick yelled. Green things went flying over the balconies. They watched as everything came crashing down.

"Who the hell threw a chair?" someone laughed.

"I DID! I HATE THAT FUCKING CHAIR!" Haymitch yelled.

"ALRIGHT VICTORS. FIND ME SOMETHING BLUE!" Finnick yelled. The three of them ran back inside. Peeta grabbed all the blue pillows. Katniss grabbed a blue lamp and yanked the cord out of the wall. Haymitch came out a moment later with one of the mannequins with Effie's blue dress.

"Oh my God Effie's going to kill you," Peeta said. Haymitch laughed, and everyone threw their items over the balcony. Another loud bang.

"NEXT ITEM! SOMETHING WITH A FACE ON IT!" Finnick yelled. They ran back inside. Peeta found a statue. Katniss ripped a portrait off the wall, and Haymitch came back out with another mannequin with one of Effie's outfits on it.

"Haymitch you can't throw a second outfit of hers out," Katniss laughed.

"Watch me," he said, and everyone threw their items again.

"I think this is the most fun I've ever had," Peeta said.

"NEXT ITEM. SOMETHING FROM YOUR DISTRICT, OR SOMETHING THAT HAS YOUR NUMBER ON IT!" Finnick yelled. Peeta found a large basket that had fake coal. Katniss pulled a chair over to the wall and hopped up on it and yanked the sign down over the doorway that said District 12. Haymitch came out with a third mannequin.

"Haymitch, you have to stop," Katniss told him.

"That's not even something from 12," Peeta said. He stood it up. Her dress was made to look like fire. Everyone threw it over the balcony again.

"ITEMS FROM THE KITCHEN!" Finnick yelled. All three went running into the kitchen. Peeta grabbed a toaster. Katniss pulled open a drawer that had spoons and spatulas. Nothing sharp. Haymitch grabbed the dining cart. They threw everything over the edge. It was beautiful.

"SOMETHING FROM THE LIVING ROOM!" Peeta picked up the large coffee table. Katniss grabbed the corner of the couch and started yanking it out. Peeta helped her get it out, and then Haymitch came out with the TV, ripping it from the wall. They all helped each other throw over the three large items.

"TOILET PAPER!" the three of them threw as many rolls as they could carry, over the balcony. Holding on to the end so it would spiral out.

"SOMETHING FROM YOUR BEDROOM!" Katniss grabbed her bed spread. Peeta grabbed a potted plant. And Haymitch was dragging out his mattress.

"You're way better at this then I am," Peeta said.

"You gotta think big. You can't be afraid of the big things," Haymitch said, and they threw everything over. "Besides, it was Effie's mattress,"

"SOMETHING FROM YOUR BATHROOM!" Peeta and Katniss had the same idea and came out with toilets brushes and plungers. Haymitch came out with a large cup.

"Did you forget what you were doing?" Katniss asked. Haymitch smiled and threw the cup into the center and let it fall.

"I put some toilet water in the cup…and peed in it," Haymitch said. Katniss and Peeta gasped.

"AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST…GRAB ALL THE PLATES YOU CAN FIND!" Finnick yelled. They ran and grabbed stacks of plates, and everyone started throwing them one by one. The loud crashing noise lasted forever and then all anyone could hear was laughter.

"UNTIL TOMORROW VICTORS!" Finnick yelled.

One of the many boring days in training, while they were eating lunch Haymitch came down. "What are you doing here?" Katniss asked.

"Do you guys know what I do all day while you're in training? Nothing. I hang around. And it's boring. At least lunch gets me out of that penthouse," Haymitch said. Finnick and Blight came over to talk with him. They all stop what they were doing when they heard some shouting.

They looked over and saw Johanna and Cashmere fighting. "Oh, this should be good," Finnick laughed and crossed his arms. Cashmere grabbed a drink and threw it in Johanna's face, making her cough. Johanna started to hyperventilate and Finnick and Haymitch ran over to her.

Johanna was afraid of water. Finnick and Haymitch grabbed her and tried to calm her down before she said something she wasn't supposed to. They had to stop her from freaking out. Katniss went to move but Peeta stopped her.

"Katniss don't," he hissed.

"She's afraid of water," Katniss said. Peeta stopped her by kissing her hard on the lips. He held her head and wouldn't let her go. He pulled his head back.

"Don't go over there," he told her. Katniss nodded her head.

"She's afraid of water," she whispered. Peeta nodded.

"I know. That's why I can't turn around and look at her. Come on," Peeta said and rushed them out of the cafeteria.

I love this song so much. It's 'Wherever you will go'. But listen to the version of Charlene Soraia. This is the number 1 most played song on my Iphone!