Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or the rights to the Hunger Games. Plots are all mine. Enjoy!

Chapter 10: Bleeding out

"You tell me to hold on
Oh you tell me to hold on
But innocence is gone
And what was right is wrong" -Imagine Dragons

"I'll let her know Gale, just text me the details...yeah, thanks for the heads up. Talk to you later...love you too..bye". Jo hangs up the phone muttering curses still avoiding my stare.

"What is it? What did Gale say?" I question. She sighs lifting her eyes to mine finally " Peeta's father died, he'll be in 12 by morning ".

"He's what?" I cry.

Johanna sighs "Peeta's father had a heart attack, Gale says he passed early this morning. His brother just called an hour ago to tell Peeta".

My chest tightens, even though I'd never met the man Peeta spoke of him fondly. "Does Peeta know I'm here in twelve?".

"Gale and I haven't said anything but he's not an idiot Katniss. I mean where else would you go."

Suddenly hearing the logic in that makes my breath quicken, the possibility of running into him jumped to about 80%. District 12 isn't a huge place but I might get by with just staying indoors until he leaves.

But who knows how long he's staying and then there a chance of him bringing his new girlfriend, I'm not sure my heart could take that. He may have gotten over me and moved on but I was very much still in love with him.

"Stop over thinking this. All that stress isn't good for the twins". Jo says snapping me out of my thoughts. "Your right, let's just finish here and worry about it later".

And we do, finishing our pedicures and manicures as stress free as we can. Jo even drags me to a couple baby stores and I have to admit looking at all the cute clothes does help lighten the mood.

"So I was thinking instead of avoiding Peeta, you just come out and tell him" Jo says as I bite into my first piece of pizza.

We had to stop in after the heavenly smell hit from the curb. "Tell him what" I ask innocently. Hopefully she'll take the hint and drop it.

"You know damn well what I mean. Don't play dumb" she accuses.

"Nothing has changed, I still feel the same way I did four months ago" I scowl back.

She huffs shaking her head.

"This is the perfect time for you to tell him, your still early enough that he hasn't missed much and he'd still forgive you I bet. Peeta's a great guy and he'll do the right thing".

"That's the problem Jo, he'll drop everything for this. Plus I doubt he's thinking clearly with the death of his father. I remember how that feels and its crappy".

She places her hand atop mind, giving me a sad smile "I get it, but you're going to have to have that conversation one day. I hope for your sack its sooner rather than later".

*********M&B*********

The next morning I wake up sweating and struggling to breathe. I dreamt I told Peeta and he literally bit my head off. Yeah I read about pregnancy dreams but damn, that was freaky.

I shower and dress in comfortable clothes since I have no plans on going out. Jo said she would keep me in the loop about when Peeta arrives and how I can avoid seeing him but a part of me doesn't trust that she won't force it and make me confront him.

So I pace and pace, then pace some more until my phone alerts me to an incoming call. I rush to pick it up seeing Jo's scowling face as the caller.

"Hey jo" I say automatically.

Although the voice on the other end isn't Jo

"Katniss" Peeta breaths.

********M&B***********

Peeta's POV

"2 minutes until show time!" someone yells from behind me. We were about be announced on Ceaser Flickerman's late night talk show. It wasn't our first interview but this one was live and Ceaser was known for asking the really personal questions.

"Alright you guys are on, good luck" the stage manager said ushering us out to the stage.

The crowd was cheering and screaming as we walk to the middle of the stage toward Ceaser who's sporting a fire red suit with matching hair and lips.

"Welcome, welcome!" he greets shuffling us to a black couch next to his chair. "I'm excited for you guys to be here! Aren't you Panem?" the crowd responds with more screaming and cheers.

"Wow, I haven't heard the crowd that loud since I had Brutus Collins here"

" I mean could you blame them, if I was looking at this I'd cheer too" Finnick gloats standing and flexing for the crowd, who begins to hoot and whistle.

As soon as he sits and Ceaser calms the crowd again he jumps straight into the questions but keeps it about the band. He and I banter playfully back and forth several times until he jumps into the big question I was hoping to avoid.

"So Peeta I must admit I follow all the gossip blogs and magazines and I'm wondering is there a special lady in the picture? You've been photographed several times with this gorgeous red head. Your fans and I would love to know is she your girlfriend?"

I swallow hard and playfully dab my head with my hanky. "Wow Ceaser, you put me in the hot seat uh" (the crowd laughs). "Uh, we haven't really spoke about it, were just taking things slow, ya know. No labels".

He laughs tapping me lightly with his hand " No labels huh. We all know what that means" he says wiggling his eyebrows. The crowds dutifully laughs and cheers while I blush crimson red.

We answer a few more questions and then play a couple songs from our upcoming album before heading off stage finally.

"That was fuck awesome!" Finn says as we make our way to the car. Since we've gotten popular the record company has us traveling in black SUVs everywhere with a shit ton of security.

Effie's personal assistant Cecelia turns in the front seat handing me my cell phone, which has 5 missed calls from my brother Wheaton. He never calls me so I immediately call back knowing something must be wrong.

"Peeta?" he answers on the first ring. "Yeah Wheaton what's up?".

I hear him breath heavy on the other end "You need to come home Peeta. Dad is… dad had a heart attack".

A heart attack? What! When? "Wheaton, what are you talking about. I just talk to dad 2 days ago". My voice was beginning to crack. I hear him sign and sniff again and swallow hard.

"I'll take the next train out wheaton" I say ending the call.

The car is deadly silent and I look to Cecelia blinking back tears "I need to go home. I need to be on the first train to district 12". She nods her head and begins typing away on her phone to Effie I assume.

Once we return to the penthouse Cecelia alerts me my train leaves in 3hrs and ill arrive tomorrow around 10am.

I'm rushing around packing my bag when Finnick stops in my room to sit on my bed. "We're going to come with you dude. I can't imagine what you're going through right now but were here for you".

I nod at him sincerely, not trusting my voice to break at the emotion I feel. It's comforting knowing the guys will be with me, at times they feel just as close as brothers. Probably even closer than I am to my real brothers.

Once we're all packed and ready we head straight for the train and board to first class. I'm grateful for Cecelia booking us a private area. I'm not sure how I would handle the media right now.

I pick the seat furthest way from everyone hoping to get some alone time before I have to deal with everything.

********M&B*********

We arrived in district 12 at about 10:15am and from there went to Finnick's house since we didn't want to alert the media by booking a hotel. Plus he was the only one of us who actually owned a home.

Once I dropped my stuff off, I caught a cab over to my brothers. It was there that my mother yelled and screamed and blamed me for my father's death. As if I hadn't felt guilty enough for not being here. Wheaton informed me his doctors couldn't pinpoint what exactly caused the attack but it happened early yesterday morning.

They were going to schedule the funeral in a week and read the will right after. So until then I would grieve at Finnicks, far away from my mother.

At some point when I was gone jo arrived and greeted me with a warm hug. "How are you drummer boy". I smiled a little at her nickname and shrugged.

"I'm hanging in there". She nodded then made her way to the kitchen for something while I sat on the couch. I looked over and saw her phone sitting next to me.

Then for the first time in weeks I think of Katniss Everdeen. I'm almost sure she's in 12. Jo's never confirmed but where else would she be.

I bet she'd answer if she thought Jo was calling. I shake my head trying to clear the crazy thought out. No, if she wanted to talk she would have answered me the many times I tried. But if anyone would know what I'm going through, it be her.

Without thinking on it again I quickly dial Katniss' number.

"Hey Jo"

My breath stalls, how after all this time can she still effect me.

"Katniss" I breath and the line goes dead.

**********M&B***************

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