I know there was a long time between my last update and now. To make up for it, here is an extra long chapter (almost 9,000 words!) Enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or any of its characters.

Chapter 16

I still cannot believe he was in my District, in my own home. The President rarely leaves the Capitol. I guess he couldn't wait two weeks to tell me. It might have been too late. He stressed how important it is that I convince the people of Panem of my love for Peeta. He even went as far to tell me to aim higher, to convince him of my love for Peeta. That wasn't all though. He also threatened to hurt Gale. At first I didn't know where that came from until he mentioned the kiss we shared by the edge of the woods. The only way he could have found out about that is if there were cameras recording it. I never thought there would be cameras in our woods, our haven from the evilness of the Capitol. I'm less safe there than I thought. I told him I would comply so long as he wouldn't hurt Gale. Even though I told him he is just a friend, I think Snow thinks more of us. I haven't told Gale about this yet. I haven't seen him since that kiss. I will have to wait until I am back home.

The Victory Tour hasn't been easy. It started off with a rocky start in District 11. Shortly after our speeches, an uprising started, which ended with gunshots. We were quickly escorted from the Justice Building onto the train for District 10. Since then, appearances have been brief. We have been given speeches pre-written for us and we are not to go off script.

It's been a stressful time, but I can't help but get excited as we near District 2. I cannot wait to see Merrick. I only hope that he feels the same, that he knows I still love him. Effie filled us in on what our day in District 2 will be like. We will take a tour around the main part of the District and even get a chance to ski some of the slopes of the mountain. We will give a short speech and then prepare for the ball that is held every year in District 2. Since District 2 brings home a Victor more years than not, they create a huge celebration. Citizens of District 2 buy tickets years in advanced to attend this affair. I have a feeling they will be disappointed to see Victors that are not from their home District. They will probably be even more bitter that we beat Cato and Clove. They both had a good chance of being crowned.

The day goes by quickly. I am taken by the beauty of District 2. There are snow-capped mountains, placid lakes, and little villages dot the landscape. It looks just like the pictures that Merrick showed me all those years ago. It's stupid, but I spend most of the day scanning the faces of the people that live there, searching for Merrick. He's nowhere to be found. By the evening, I start to think he won't show. I think Cinna can tell something is wrong as he's styling me because he says little things to try to cheer me up. He puts me in a long black velvet dress with satin gloves that reach my elbow. I look in the mirror, trying to find the right word to describe how I look. Elegant. I look elegant. My hair is loose, cascading in waves down my back. I'm dripping in jewels. I'm not sure if they are real or not and I think I'd prefer that. I might be even more nervous if the earrings I am wearing are actual diamonds.

We are taken to the entrance of the hall where we are formally introduced to the crowd, standing by their chairs. I am unsure if the applause is fake or genuine. We are taken to the head table where we dine with the mayor's family. Peeta does most of the talking. He is better at that stuff. We commence the dancing after dinner by dancing slowly in the center of the dance floor with all eyes watching us. It's a lot of pressure remembering the steps that Effie taught us. We do all right and then other couples join in. When the dance is over, we go to the bar to get some water. While we are there, we are met by some people that are interested in talking with us. Judging by their smiles and the words they exchange with us, it appears as if we actually have some fans in District 2.

When they are finished talking they move along and allow the people behind them to speak with us. I'm lost in a whirlwind of people congratulating us and commenting on our Games. I try to look ahead to see how many people are left to talk to. That's when my eyes connect with his. Merrick is standing 5 feet away from me, directly in front of me. I can feel my smile widen at the sight of him. I must look like some stupid, giddy girl but it's ok. He looks just as excited to see me. His eyes have lightened up and he cannot wipe the smile from his face. I wait for him, quite impatiently, adding little remarks into the conversation and make an effort to remain polite. I try to concentrate on the people in front of me but my eyes drift back to him. It's been 8 months since I've seen him. He looks so handsome in his tuxedo, something I have never seen him wear before.

He approaches us, taking my hand in his and bringing to his mouth for a kiss. He then shakes Peeta's hand as he introduces himself by his first name. Peeta shoots me a knowing look, instantly recognizing his name. I give him a discrete nod. Merrick congratulates us and says he has a small present for us. He checks his jacket pockets and then says he must have left it in his coat pocket in the coatroom. I can't help but think this is a signal as to where he wants me to meet him. He then excuses himself. I turn to Peeta and bring myself closer to him.

"It's ok…if I go to him?" I whisper.

"Yes, it's fine. I can handle the crowd while you are gone." he whispers back. He gives me a short kiss on the lips. He's good at sneaking in little moments of affection like that. It must be why Snow believes him.

"I'll try not to be too long."

"Take as much time as you need." he says. I give him a gracious smile before walking toward the doors Merrick exited through. I remember the coatroom was near the entrance of the hall. I make my way through the hallways, walking as quietly as I can in my heels. I really don't feel like getting caught. I find the coatroom, which is empty and dimly lit. I walk up and down the rows searching for him. When I approach the last row, I start to doubt myself. Maybe I was supposed to wait in the ballroom for him. Maybe he was just retrieving a gift for us.

"Merrick?" I whisper into the air. I feel a hand take mine, turning me to face the opposite direction. I only get a brief glimpse of him, but I can tell its Merrick. He presses his body against mine, his lips connecting with my lips, showering me with desperate kisses. It had been far too long since we had done this. I know we don't have much time so we need to make every second count. He abruptly stops his kisses, taking a few breaths. I look into his eyes and I know his question before he can even say it. He wants to know about Peeta and me.

"It wasn't real. It was just a strategy to get sponsors." I murmur. I see him breath a sigh of relief.

"I wasn't sure what to believe." he admitted.

"I didn't want to. I was worried about what you would think."

"It was hard, watching you kiss him like that. It made me think that I didn't matter anymore."

"Merrick, you'll always matter." I say before giving him a gentle kiss. I kiss him again, sucking lightly on his lower lip. I hear a moan escape him before he kisses me deeply. His mouth doesn't stay near mine for long. He plants a trail of kisses, starting at my neck and moving south, down the plunging neckline of my dress. He continues until he has no more skin to kiss. I hold his head against my chest as I try to steady my breathing. I forgot how he could make me feel, just with the feeling of his lips against my skin. He slinks down to the ground, pulling me with him so that I'm sitting in his lap. I close my eyes and rest my head on his shoulder as his fingers sweep through my hair.

"Those two weeks you were in the Games were the worst two weeks of my life." he says in a low tone. "I can only imagine how bad it was for you."

"The thought of you, seeing you again, made me keep on going. I didn't want to die without seeing you again." I admit. I'm not one to willingly admit my feelings. Maybe it's the fact that I almost didn't make it out of the Hunger Games alive. It could also be that this might be the last time we will ever see each other again. The thought saddens me. I can feel a few tears roll down my cheek. It isn't long before his hand is brushing my cheek, wiping the streams from my face.

"What's wrong?" he murmurs in my ear.

"I hate this, being apart from you. Not knowing when our next meeting will be, if at all. I hate that we have to hide in a closet just to be with each other."

"We have to make do with what we have. It's always been like that Katniss. We always manage to make it work."

"Through lots of compromises." I say with defeat.

"What compromises are we making tonight?" he asks me.

"It would be nice to dance with you, just once."

"We can dance in here. If you listen closely, you can hear the music."

"But we are in a dark coat closet, with hardly any room to move." I pout. He moves me off his lap and then stands up.

"Miss Everdeen, may I have this dance?" he asks as he extends his hand towards me. I'm about to complain some more until I see him leaning towards me with that charming smile he wears so nicely. I take his hand and he helps me up. He wraps his arms around my waist and I place my hands on his shoulders. We sway slowly to the distant music.

"This isn't so bad, right?" he asks.

"No, it isn't." I let my thoughts wander as we dance in the dark. I think back to the last time I saw him, in the Justice Building in District 12. I remember how desperate I was to make every moment count. Suddenly dancing doesn't seem like a good way to be spending our final moments. I move my hand down his body until my fingers skim his cummerbund. I move the fabric upwards until I locate the button to his pants.

"Katniss, what are you doing?" he asks in a playful tone.

"You said I could do whatever I liked."

"We have time for that…later." he tells me, confusing me even more.

"Merrick, I don't have time. I need to get back into that ballroom before too many people notice I'm gone."

"Later tonight. When I sneak into your room." he tells me as he nuzzles his face close to mine. I feel my heart skip a beat.

"And how do you suppose you'll manage that?" I ask him with curiosity.

"I know this building like the back of my hand."

"Do you know where I'm staying?"

"5th floor, Suite 1." he says with a smirk.

"How did you know?" I ask in amazement.

"I have my ways." he says. "You should get back to your party. Wouldn't want someone figuring out the guest of honor is missing." he says before giving my forehead a kiss.

"Not yet." I beg.

"We have all night." he reminds me. I guess he is right. The next hour in that ballroom will make the rest of the night worth it. His lips meet mine for one more kiss and then his is gone. I make my way back to the ballroom, where everyone is too drunk to notice that I wasn't there. I walk around the room until I find Peeta sitting alone at the table we dined at.

"Having fun?" I joke as I sit in the chair next to him.

"What do you think?" he asks with an arched brow.

"What happened while I was gone?"

"Had to dance with some pretty dreadful women."

"In what way?" I ask, prying for more information.

"One lady laughed at everything I said. A few let their hands wander." I am surprised by his last comment. I'd expect that behavior from the Capitol women but not in District 2.

"They must really like you." I tease.

"How did things go for you?" he asks me.

"Good." I say with a smile.

"Good. You think Effie would let us leave early?" he wonders out loud.

"Of course not. It's Effie after all."

"I guess we'll just have to bear through it." he says with a sigh. I stand up and take his hand.

"Come on."

"What?"

"We might as well try to enjoy ourselves." I say as I lead him to the dance floor. The music has slowed down and the couples are holding each other close. We close the distance between ourselves as we move to the music. Halfway through the song, I move my hand down Peeta's back until my hand is resting on his butt. I give it a firm squeeze and give him a devilish grin.

"I can do that. After all you are my boyfriend." I say sincerely although he knows I'm joking. I then feel his lips come crashing down on mine, kissing me with fervor. It's about a minute before he breaks away.

"And I can do that…since you are my girlfriend." he jokes back. The smile quickly leaves his face, replaced by a look of discomfort.

"What's wrong?"

"My leg." he says with pain in his voice.

"Come on, I'll take you to your room." I say. He wraps his arm around my shoulders as we make our way to the exit. He winces every now and then as we make our way to the elevator. Once inside, I press the button marked 10. I help him off the elevator and to his room where I lead him to his bed. He leans against the pillows and lets out a sigh.

"Does it always hurt?" I ask.

"When I've been on my feet a lot." he says. I pull up his pant leg exposing his prosthetic. I place my hands where it meets his thigh. "Katniss, no." he says with a shaky voice.

"You need a break. You do take it off?" I question him. He shakes his head. "Why not?" I ask sitting next to him.

"I don't like the way it looks…without it." he admits after hesitating.

"Peeta, you need to give your leg a break." I say, hoping he will listen. I watch as he removes his prosthetic, placing it next to him on the bed. I've never seen him look so vulnerable as he does now. I scoot further up the bed and sit beside him, taking his hand for support.

"After they lifted us out of the Arena, when we were in the hovercraft, I thought you died. I was so scared." I tell him. It's the first time I've talked about this with him. We try to avoid any talk of the Games.

"Maybe it would have been better."

"No it wouldn't have. Why would you say something like that?" I say, with anger showing through.

"Put me out of my misery. Plus, you wouldn't have to pretend. You could be with whomever you wanted."

"I'm glad you're still here. And it's not for much longer. In a week, we will be able to be with whomever we choose to be with."

"Katniss, you'll still visit me, won't you?" he asks with pleading eyes.

"Of course I will." I say giving him a hug, which he returns.

"I don't really have that many people in my life that I can count on."

"Don't worry, I'll be there." I reassure him. "I have to go…I'm meeting Merrick. You'll be ok, right?"

"Yes, I'll be fine."

"If you need me, for anything, call me on my room phone." I say to him.

"Don't worry about me. You should enjoy tonight." he says forcing a smile. "I'm going to try to catch up on some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow." he says, pulling me closer into his embrace. I tuck him into bed and say goodbye before leaving him.

Once I am inside my room, I notice something that wasn't there before. Set up in the corner of the room is a blanket fort made out of sheets and metal bars. I instantly know who made it. I then wonder how he managed to get into my room to assemble it. I look inside, disappointed to find it empty. I'll just have to wait a little longer for him.

I change out of my dress into pajamas. I slip on the set that my mother gave to me on the first night I slept over at Merrick's house. Back then I had been too uncomfortable to wear them. I'm still not fully at ease with wearing them but I remember Merrick saying I looked good in them. I thought that maybe he'd like to see me in them again. I wait for him to arrive but it seems he is taking longer than I anticipated. I grab a silk robe from the closet, a gift from District 8, and wrap it around me, tying it at my waist. I feel a little better with less skin exposed. I return to the blanket fort and lay inside on the cushions that line the floor. As I stare up at the dark material, I pretend that I am back in District 12, in Merrick's room waiting for him to return.

Suddenly I hear a knock on the door, followed by a voice call out "Room Service". I am a little baffled by this. I didn't request anything upon my arrival to my room. I crawl out of the fort and make my way to the door, thankful I have my robe to cover me. I swing open the door to find Merrick standing there with a food cart in tow. I move to the side and let him in. As soon as I shut the door, his arms wrap around me and he gives me a kiss.

"Did you like my surprise?" he asks.

"I love it." I reply.

"I thought you would." he says with a grin. "Go inside. I'll be there in a minute." I do as he says, climbing back inside the fort. He returns with full hands. In one is a champagne bottle with two glasses and in the other is a silver platter full of food.

"Champagne?" I say with a raised brow. "Aren't we too young for this?"

"We're celebrating." he says, popping the cork. He fills each glass and hands one to me. Merrick clinks my glass with his and says, "To finding each other" before taking a gulp. I put the rim of the glass to my lips, tilting it backwards. I can feel the bubbles tickle my throat as it makes it's way down. I like the way it feels. I finish my glass and place it on the ground. I reach for a strawberry from the tray and twirl it around by the stem. A distant memory resurfaces, of us sitting in a blanket fort in his room, feeding each other strawberries. I hold the berry near his face. He doesn't hesitate taking the red fruit in his mouth. I discard the remnants and pick up another one. I bring it closer to my lips but Merrick manages to swipe it before it reaches my lips.

"Fine, I wasn't hungry anyway." I tease as I lie down on the pillows. I close my eyes, choosing to relax while he gorges himself. I am surprised when I feel him use the tip of the strawberry to trace my lips, stirring something within me. My eyes slowly open to find him gazing at me. I open my mouth and sink my teeth into it, chewing slowly as the juice dribbles down my chin. His mouth glides up my chin, removing the sweet liquid. I then feel his tongue sweep across my lower lip followed by his lips on mine. He kisses me deeply, slowly drawing out each kiss. I feel the reverberations of his moan against my mouth causing me to smile. I like that I can make him feel this way.

He shifts his body around the platter, moving closer to me. As he does so, he must have hit one the support beams on the fort because a sea of bedding comes crashing down on us. Our lips part and we both giggle.

"Come on, let's get out of here." he says as he lifts up the sheets long enough for the both of us to get out. I take his hand and lead him to the bed. I leave him for a minute while I dim the light to a soft glow.

When I reach the bed, I notice his jacket and shirt are gone, leaving him in his dress pants and undershirt. I smile warmly at him as I climb towards the middle of the bed. I kneel in front of him, so that we are on eye level. He looks at me, his eyes full of lust. We are finally back to where we left off all those nights ago in District 12. The night of our first real date.

His hands cup my face. I thought he would pull me closer to him but instead he takes me in, like he wants to remember me in this moment for forever. The anticipation soon becomes too much. I want his lips on mine, to feel his tender kisses. I want even more than that, to be honest. I've had a lot of time to think about this. All those nights in the Arena, I dreamed about this night, and seeing him again. Being able to do whatever I wanted with him. I then do something rather bold of me. I lean in and kiss him, taking control of the situation. His hands brace my hips and pull me closer to him so that our bodies are now touching. My hands find their way to his hair, weaving through it as the passion builds. My breath hitches as his hands firmly grip my butt. He lets out a little laugh as he removes his lips from me and presses his forehead to mine.

"Katniss." he whispers into the silence.

"Hmm?"

"Do you have any idea what you do to me?" he mutters with a smile.

"No." I tell him. I feel his hand take mine, inching slowly down his stomach to the front of his pants. He rubs my hand over his ever-growing erection. I feel the blush hit my cheeks. I've never touched this part of a man's body before. I move my hand up and down, stroking him a few more times over the fabric of his pants. He releases a light moan as he rests his head on headboard.

"You like that?" I ask in the most seductive voice I can muster. I'm not used to behaving this way.

"Mmm-hmm." he says through his grin. His lips lightly brush mine followed by his tongue playfully teasing my lips. I open my mouth, allowing him entry. My hands rest on his shoulder as I try to keep my balance. I can already feel myself growing lightheaded. He tugs on the tie to my robe, loosening the fabric from my body. His hands explore my gentle curves, roaming over the fabric of my pajamas. As soon as his hands trace over the lace he pulls away from me. I look to him and find him with a wild smile on his face. He scans my body silently and a smirk finds a way to his mouth.

"I remember these. I thought you didn't like these pajamas." he said with a chuckle.

"They're not so bad." I say timidly.

"I always thought you looked good in them. I used to dream about you in these pajamas. Woke up with my hand down my pants most of the time." he admits. My blush returns. "You still look good."

"Thanks." I reply. I'm not really sure what else I should say. He then slides the robe off my shoulders, exposing more of my skin. His mouth moves to my shoulder and he leaves a trail of kisses as he moves to my neck. That lightheaded sensation returns as he sucks my delicate skin. My knees weaken and I feel I can no longer remain in this kneeling position. I break away from him and lay down on the bed. He lays on his side with his hand propping up his head, looked down at me.

"Everything ok?" he asks as he strokes my hair.

"I just needed a little break." I tell him.

"We haven't even started anything yet." he says with a small laugh. I remain silent for a while before I speak.

"I'm a little nervous too. I've never done this before."

"You haven't?" he questions me.

"No. You're the only person I've ever done anything with." I say, slightly embarrassed.

"Not even with that guy?"

"Who Peeta?" I ask as I turn on my side.

"No the other one. The one who ripped me off of you the first time I kissed you."

"Oh, Gale? No he's just a friend." I tell him. I leave out my suspicion that Gale might like me as more than a friend. That information is irrelevant.

"I always thought he was a jealous ex-boyfriend."

"No. Just a friend." I say. I then think about his past and wonder if he's had sex before or anything close to it. It's not something we've ever discussed in the years we've known each other.

"What are you thinking?" he asks, noticing me thinking deeply.

"Have you ever…?" I trail off.

"Yes I have."

"With a lot of girls?" I then ask. With the combination of his looks and sweet personality, I can't help but think of all the girls that must flock to him.

"Three. Is that a lot?" he asks with an arched brow.

"No." I say. That number doesn't compare to some of the numbers that guys at my school have, Gale being one of them. I've heard gossip about him in school, about what he does with girls at the slagheap. I'm sure he's already in the double digits.

"They were all before you. Before I realized how I felt about you." he tells me. This makes me feel a little better. "Katniss, if you're not ready—"

"No, I am." I say cutting him off. "I just have no idea what I'm doing."

"Well I do. Just relax." he tells him as he kisses my lips.

"So what did you think?" he asks, his smile still plastered on his face.

"I thought it was amazing. You're amazing." I add. I feel a wave of exhaustion crash over me. Between the busy day I had and what we just did, I feel as if I can barely keep my eyes open. I try my best to fight off sleep but a yawn escapes my body.

"Tired?" he asks, stroking my hair.

"I don't want to sleep." I say.

"You have a long day ahead of you."

"I can sleep on the train."

"District 1 isn't that far of a ride. You need your sleep Katniss." I know he's right but I also know that our time together is limited. I don't want to waste hours of our time together just to get a little sleep.

"I want to spend my time with you. We don't have a lot of time together." I say, trying to reason with him.

"What if we sleep for a few hours? I'll set the alarm clock." he suggests. Something tells me this is a battle I am not going to win. I might as well concede.

"Ok." I say. He parts from my embrace turning towards the side table where the alarm clock rests. I take this time to slide underneath the covers where he joins me. I rest my head on his chest and wrap my arm around his abdomen. He hold onto me too as I close my eyes and quickly fade into the darkness.

My ears hear the alarm emitting a loud, sharp noise, one that is impossible for me to sleep through. Merrick has no trouble staying asleep. I climb over his body and switch off the alarm. It's 3 AM. That leaves us 5 hours to spend together. I return to my previous spot on the bed and slink under the covers before gently rousing Merrick from his sleep. He gives me a sleepy smile and caresses my cheek with his hand. My heart stirs like it has many times before, sending a current through my body.

"Why can't it always be like this?" I whisper to him.

"Because the odds arent in our favor. Plus you already have a boyfriend." he says with disappointment.

"We're breaking up after the Victory Tour. We thought that would be a good time…give us a few months before we have to go back to mentor the Games." I tell him.

"Does anyone else know it's not real?"

"Haymitch…and Gale. President Snow knows too." I tell him. His whole body tenses up at the mention of that name. He spins me off of him so that we are both sitting up, turned to each other.

"The President knows?"

"It's fine Merrick. I just need to get through this Tour and convince everyone we're in love. Then I will be free."

"You think he'll let go of you that easily?"

"Who?" I ask now confused. Is he talking about Snow or Peeta?

"Snow, Katniss." he says with worry.

"Yes. He can't expect us to stay together forever. Teenage relationships end all the time."

"I hope you're right." he says. I hope this is the end of this conversation. This isn't how I want to spend my final hours with him. I lie back down and pat the area of bed beside me. He obeys me and lies beside me, taking me in his arms.

"I don't want you to go." he says with sorrow in his voice. I realize that this is the first time I am leaving him. Usually, it's the other way around. I stay where I am, and he leaves me.

"I don't either." I tell him.

"If you could stay here with me, would you?"

"Merrick, you know I hate hypothetical questions."

"I know, I was just curious." he says. I take some time to think about his question. It would be a lot to ask if it was even possible. Could I ever leave everyone and everything I know to move to District 2 to be with him? It could be feasible, now that my family is financially secure. District 2 could also offer a better quality of life. And the best part would be that I would get to see him everyday, whenever I wanted without having to worry about him leaving me once again.

"Yes, I would." I finally say. "Still, it doesn't matter."

"Maybe one day we'll have that option…of choosing what District we live in."

"I wouldn't hold your breath on that one." I say rolling my eyes. Sadness sweeps over me when I think this could be our last time together. "Will you be coming back anytime soon?" I ask with hope in my voice.

"I don't know." he says with a sigh. "I heard my father talk about being transferred to a long-term position in another district. I think it might be District 8 though. I heard him talking about there being some turbulence there."

"Like an uprising?" I ask with fear in my voice.

"I have no clue."

I change the subject, deciding to reminisce with him about our days in District 12 together. We've had some incredible times together. There were some bad times as well but we skirt around those memories, choosing to be happy. I look over at the clock, which reads 7 AM. We are down to the final hour. I get out of bed, telling him I need to get ready. I walk to the shower, deciding to make this a quick one so I have more time with him. As soon as the water flows, I feel the tears form in my eyes. I cry into my hands, trying to remain quiet enough that he won't hear me. My body jerks when I feel his arms wrap around my waist. His body melts into mine as we stand in the shower.

"It will be ok." he murmurs as he kisses my jaw. I hate when he says that. I know this is another argument waiting to happen so I just let it go. It would be the same conversation we always have. I'll say it won't be ok. He'll say that he'll find a way back to me that he always has before. I'm not sure how he remains that hopeful. I turn around face him, placing my arms behind his neck to bring his face closer to mine. His lips join mine as we kiss each other hungrily as the water flows down our bodies. His hands survey every part of me, memorizing every curve. I jump when I hear a knock on the door.

"Leaving in a half hour, sweetheart." I hear Haymitch call through the door.

"Ok." I shout. I push away from Merrick so I can clean myself, and the tears return. I scrub furiously against my scalp, working the shampoo into my hair. Merrick takes my wrists and lowers my hands as he takes over. I close my eyes take in the sensation of his fingertips massaging my scalp. I lean backwards, allowing the water to wash suds from my hair. We then take turns washing each other, removing the scent of sex from our skin. I turn off the water and he returns with a towel for me, his already wrapped around his waist. I stare at him as I wrap my towel around me, noticing the way the sun reflects on the water droplets on his smooth skin. He's so gorgeous. We walk hand in hand back to my bedroom, breaking our touch to get dressed. I put on the outfit Cinna made for me while Merrick collects his piece of clothing and redresses himself in his attire from last night. I quickly pack my suitcase and we meet each other in the middle of the room. This is the hard part, saying goodbye. I stare up at him, thinking of the words to say. Thinking of final words for him. I don't know what to say to him. I want the words to be perfect but I've never been good with words. Instead I hug him and he envelopes me in his arms.

"Don't go." he murmurs into the hair on the top of my head.

"I have to." I say, trying to remain strong. "Merrick if this is it—"

"—This isn't it." he says rejecting even the thought that this might be the last time we ever see each other again.

"Merrick if it this is it, I want to let you know how happy you've made me. I never thought I could find anyone like you."

"I'll find a way back to you. I promise I will." This is something he tells me every time.

"Ok." I say.

"Katniss you'll wait for me, won't you?" he asks with pleading eyes.

"As long as it takes."

"No, not that long. A year. Give me a year." I'd give him more than a year but I don't tell him that. Instead I nod my head.

"Merrick, if you hear anything about Peeta and I…and us being together, don't believe it. Just in case we have to stay together after the Victory Tour." I say.

"Ok." He leans down and kisses my lips, the passion and desperation woven through each kiss. We don't have much time. A few minutes later, there is another knock on the door. I crack it open and find Peeta standing there.

"It's time to go. They are waiting for us." he says.

"Just one second." I say. I go inside recovering my suitcase followed by one more kiss from Merrick. As I turn towards the door, I see Peeta peeking inside.

"Goodbye Merrick." I say holding him one last time.

"Goodbye Katniss." he whispers. We reluctantly let go of each other. I grab the handle of my suitcase and roll it behind me. I leave it by my door so it will be taken down by one of the Peacekeepers and walk beside Peeta.

"You love him?" he asks quietly as we walk down the long hallway.

"Yes" I say quietly. I surprise myself with how quickly I give my answer. I'm not one to use that word. It scares me. There is no denying it though…I love Merrick. "Peeta, thanks for last night…for covering for me when I went off with him."

"I'm glad I could help." he says. We make our way down to the entrance of the Justice Building where people with cameras are waiting for us. Peeta takes my hand in his. Time to pretend again. I fake a smile before we walk outside. We quickly make our way car. I look up at the Justice Building one last time and see Merrick standing by the window of my room looking down at me. I won't let this be the last time I see him. I will be with him no matter what it takes.

Merrick and Katniss are back together! Don't forget to review this chapter...I'd really like to know what you thought of the story line/writing. Feel free to make any predictions or suggestions too!