A/N: Hello all! Thank you for your continued reviews and support of this story. I am overjoyed with how much support I've been getting so thank you to all of you! I am glad you liked the twist I through into the last chapter, and I certainly plan on continuing it due to the feedback. As for those of you worried about Peeta, I don't want to reveal anything, so all I will say is stay tuned ;) This chapter will be a bit longer than the others, and I will be switching back and forth between characters in this chapter, so just be ready for that. Without further ado, here is Chapter 6! Please review and let me know what you think!

Change of Fate

Chapter Six: Open Your Eyes

Peeta

It's been about a week since our failed attempt at the first propo. In the meantime, Haymitch was able to convince the rest of the leaders of the Rebellion that the best way for Katniss to act for the cameras was to be filmed in live action, just as I thought. So today we are headed out to District 8, which has been embroiled in conflict since the day we were rescued from the arena. From what we are told, it is not in very good condition.

Katniss and I are currently on a hovercraft with our new camera crew led by a young woman named Cressida and her team, along with a soldier by the name of Boggs, he is very trusted by President Coin and has been appointed directly to protect Katniss since she agreed to become the Mockingjay, a few other soldiers to provide protection, and Gale. It is slightly awkward with him along with us, but no more so than it ever has been. I do catch him shooting me a few shifty glances here and there, but that's nothing. I trust him at this point. We're on the same side.

Eventually we are dropped off on the outskirts of a town, and from the moment we get off I see why the rebels told us District 8 hasn't fared well. It is completely unrecognizable from the place we visited during the Victory tour not half a year ago! It is rundown, smog and smoke cover over head as a layer of gray film covers what should be an otherwise blue sky. We follow Boggs and the others into the town, passing many wounded citizens and rebel soldiers. I feel Katniss clutch my hand, this is a lot to handle. And I get the feeling it is only the beginning.

Boggs leads us to a nearby warehouse that has been turned into a makeshift hospital, outside we meet the woman in command, a soldier by the name of Commander Paylor. "Boggs, what are these two doing here?" She asks obviously indicating Katniss and myself.

"President's orders. We're shooting a propo today, and the President wants them to see first hand the damage that the Capital has caused."

The woman they call Paylor is reasonably young, probably no older than 35, with black skin and dark hair. She spends a moment examining us before nodding, "Alright then, ready yourselves you two. This may be a bit heavy to see."

She is right. When we enter, there are hundreds of wounded within the walls of the hospital. Hundreds more lay dead in a separate section of the place. Katniss' grip on my hand is so hard, I'm not sure if I'll have any feeling in it later today. It's like a zombie apocalypse of some kind, yet they aren't zombies - they are real live people. They are in pain, and there aren't enough doctors to treat them all, nor enough medicine to adequately help them. I cannot imagine what this must be like for people. Yet something curious happens as we begin to walk through the many rows of wounded. When they catch sight of Katniss and I - more likely just Katniss - that in it of itself acts as medicine. She is their inspiration. She is their symbol of hope. She truly is the Mockingjay, and she would've been had she agreed to be or not.

I pull her close to me for a moment and speak quietly to her, "You realize what's happening don't you?"

She eyes me curiously, "What do you mean?"

"Just by being here, you are helping these people. Just by being your wonderful self, you are healing them, in your own way."

She smiles at this as we turn back to continue greeting the wounded. They are truly in awe of our presence, again though I feel it is mainly Katniss they marvel at. Eventually, an elder woman comes forth to us hobbling along with her cane and gives both of us hugs. She then says to us, "It is a terrible thing that the Capital made you two go into the Games together. And even more terrible that it resulted in the loss of your child..." She says this as she puts her hand on Katniss' stomach. It was agreed upon by the Rebel leadership that the story of our fake-child would be that Katniss miscarried when the electric blast of the lightning violently threw her in the arena. I certainly feel bad about this lie seeing what it means to these poor people, but we must keep it up. For them.

"I know. Peeta and I were mortified when we found out. But we are young, I believe that we will get another chance. And with any luck, our child will be born into a much better world. A better world with no Hunger Games," Katniss responds. I don't know what to think about this. Katniss is not a great actor, but these words come out of her so naturally and it feels so genuine... Is it possible that she has thought about the idea of us having kids? Together? I blush and laugh to myself as I realize how quickly my mind jumped to that idea, but still; I've thought about it nearly all my life.

My thoughts are interrupted as the old woman turns to me, "Young Peeta, I am old, but I ask that you do me one favor before I die."

"And what is that m'am?"

"Protect this one. Protect her with your life."

I can only smile at this, "I've been looking out for Katniss for as long as I can remember. I'm not gonna stop until the day that I die."

The woman gives me a radiant smile, pinches my cheek softly, before rejoining what I can only assume are her grandchildren.

We continue moving through the hospital greeting many of the wounded, I even help bandage a few people while Katniss spends time reading a few picture books to the little kids present. In the back of my mind, I can only think that this is going to be one hell of a propo. Haymitch is gonna be real happy. Eventually, Boggs signals to us that it's time to leave and we all regroup outside.

"Well, what'd you think?" Boggs asks us.

"I think that I had no idea just how much damage has already occurred in this short lived war," Katniss replies. "I knew the Capital was ruthless, I just didn't realize to what extent they would go to -"

But she is cut off. All of us hear Haymitch and Plutarch in our headsets. "Boggs! Get those two out of there ASAP! We've received word that the Capital is going to bomb District 8."

"WHAT?" I exclaim. "Haymitch, you want us to leave when there are all these people here that need our help?"

Yet it is not Haymitch who responds, it is Plutarch. "Part of your agreement in joining the Rebellion is that you only see front line combat when given explicit permission by the President or myself. You have neither. Boggs, get them out of there. Take cover in the safe house four blocks down and on the right, we'll send the hovercraft to get you soon and the coordinates on where to meet."

"Roger that," Boggs says. Both Katniss and I open our mouths to protest, but he holds up his hand, "You heard the man you two. There is no negotiation right now. Let's move."

I want to fight this, but I understand that we cannot. So we follow Boggs and the rest of the team closely as we make to reach the secure safe house. Three blocks away. We see Rebels in the streets mobilizing, they clearly must've been informed as well. Two blocks away. I see more wounded in the street though. I want to stop and tell them to take cover, but behind me one of the soldiers keeps shoving me along. One block away. We're almost there. Almost, and then I can yell at Plutarch for not -

An explosion erupts around me. I feel myself being launched 20 feet in the air. It feels as though time has stopped. There is no time. Time does not exist as my body flips and spins in the air. For a moment, I gain stability and I take the chance to look around and I realize that it's not just a bombing. It is an invasion. Hundreds of white helmeted Peacekeepers are marching into the town. And my body is flying in their direction.

Thud. My body lands on the ground, in the streets, and my mind goes black.

President Snow

I feel a wide grin spread across my old face. I have been watching the whole scene unfolding in District 8 and things could not possibly have gone any better. Our informant in District 13 certainly proved their value with letting it slip that Ms. Everdeen and Mr. Mellark would be leaving for 8 today. I must say, my new Head Gamemaker, Mr. Iago Saváge, has proven to be quite brilliant in his short time on the job. I am sitting with him in his office, as we watch the whole scenario play out.

"I am not a huge fan of Commander Thread, to be honest Mr. President, but he does have his uses. Like being an unnecessary but highly amusing brute. I am glad I put him in charge of the attack on 8. This will be highly amusing," Saváge says gleefully.

I nod, "Indeed... Yet I am far more excited to see what Ms. Everdeen will do once she realizes that we have Mr. Mellark. Will she command the rebels to stand down? Will she sacrifice herself? Or... Will she do what the Rebels want her to do? Yes, I must admit this will likely be far more entertaining than any of the recent Hunger Games."

Saváge grins with a familiar sinister smile. "Oh yes, I agree Mr. President. But, if you'll excuse, it's time for this round of the Games to begin," he says. He presses a button on the telecom, "Commander Thread, do you copy?"

The raspy voice of the commander responds, "Yes sir, loud and clear."

"Good. March into the town. Shoot to kill, except for the boy. You have him already, yes?"

"Yes sir," Thread replies.

"Good, you know what to do."

"It will be done, sir."

I feel an anxious and excited smile make it's way across my face. This is where the fun begins...

Katniss

I feel my body thrown to the ground, and my face scraped up. Oh my god, we are under attack. Coin and Plutarch weren't kidding, real war is vastly different from my experiences in the Hunger Games. I cannot hear anything except a high-pitched ringing noise. I am disoriented. The world is spinning around me. I see Gale and Boggs come into view and they are trying to get me to stand up.

"Katniss? Katniss! KATNISS!" Gale says. I am unable to respond. "Katniss, you have to get up! We have to get you to safety!

I stand, but still can't speak. We are in an alleyway off the main street. The camera crew, Boggs, Gale, and the other soldiers are all huddled around me. Where is Peeta? "Peeta?" I ask, finally talking again.

The rest of the team looks around, and he is not with us. "PEETA!" I shout. There is no response, and I try to sprint into the streets to find him, but Gale grabs me. "Gale, LET ME GO!"

"I can't Katniss, our mission is to protect you."

"GALE LET ME GO!"

Yet he does not respond this time, it is Boggs, "No. We have to get you to the safe house."

I cannot believe my ears. I was right, the rebels do not care what happens to anyone, so long as they win their war. They do not care about the lives of the people, as long as they win. They will sacrifice Peeta, if it means winning. I reject this. I see a ladder leading to the roof of a building, and I know what I need to do. I knee Boggs right in the nuts, and jump out of the group that has encircled me and begin climbing the ladder as fast as I can.

"Katniss!" Gale shouts as he tries to pull my foot down. I kick him in the face as I continue upwards. He follows after me, but I do not care. I rush to the roof, and when I get there I crouch down behind a brick railing to get a better view of the chaos around us, and to see if I can spot Peeta. I am horrified at what I see. Hundreds of Peacekeepers are making their way into the town and are shooting and killing anyone and everyone they find. I pull out my bow, yet before I can do anything, Gale and the camera crew sneak up behind me. "You shouldn't be doing this Katniss."

"Gale, shut up. If you want to help me, stay here, if not, just leave. It's as simple as that."

He doesn't respond, but he too pulls out his bow, so I can only assume that he plans on staying. Before the Peacekeepers are in range, they stop their assault inward into the town. I curiously survey the battleground, as the rebels regroup from the first round of bombings and begin mustering their forces for a counterattack. Yet why are the Peacekeepers not charging? "Another round of bombs!" I hear one man shout from bellow. I look around and try to find where they could see this, but nothing. Then, out of thin air the capital hovercraft appear after uncloaking themselves, I quickly pull out a fire tip arrow, take aim for the craft's engine, and fire. It is a direct hit, and the first hovercraft spins out of control and crashes into a building on the other side of town. I hear a round of cheers from the rebels below. Still, there are over hovercraft behind that one that continue on with their assigned bomb run.

"Gale, use your arrows and aim for the hovercraft's engines, it's the only weakness they have." He nods, and prepares himself for the next wave of bombers. I see the rebels regrouping, and making a push along the side streets to stop the once more advancing Peacekeepers. I begin looking around for Peeta, but there is no sign of him. I notice that the gap between this building and the next is not very large, so I get a running start and leap over to the next building hoping to get a better view. Gale and the others follow, and I notice that the Peacekeepers are halting their advance once more, which must mean the hovercraft are preparing for another run. So I get myself ready for the next wave.

Sure enough, their cloaking devices reveal several more hovercraft and Gale and I take aim. "You take the front, I'll take the rear, ok?" I ask Gale.

"You got it."

Once they are in range, we fire. I make contact and watch as the hovercraft crashes into the street with a large thud and explosion. Gale misses on his first try, but he quickly re-aims on the next one and makes a direct hit which leads to it crashing right into the one I shot down. The rebels are cheering! They are driving the Peacekeepers back. This is turning into quite a successful battle for us. But a nagging thought remains in my mind: Where is Peeta?

President Snow

For as elated as I was moments ago, I am now just as irritated. Once more Katniss Everdeen has been a pain in my rear, spoiling my plans. "God damn that insolent little girl."

Saváge turns around and smiles at me. "Don't worry Mr. President. Remember, moves and countermoves. It takes two to play a game, and Katniss Everdeen is certainly a skilled player. But she doesn't see the whole board. She can't see the cards we hold."

"Are you ready to reveal them?"

"Yes sir, if you are."

I nod grimly, "By all means, proceed."

He turns back around at the screen and hits the telecom, "Thread? Disengage with the rebels. Reveal the boy."

"Yes sir."

"When toying with Ms. Everdeen, do not kill the boy right away. Hurt him. Make him suffer. And in turn, make her suffer. Make her beg. Get her on her knees. And then, and only then, rip her heart out."

"It will be done, my lord."

I lean back in my chair. "This is a very important moment in this war. It could very well be a defining moment for both sides. I do hope that it goes according to plan Iago."

"It will, Mr. President."

Peeta

I wake up, and I don't know how long it's been. My left side is killing me and my head hurts. I open my eyes and take a moment to realize where I am and my heart stops. All around me are the notorious Peacekeepers dressed in their all white body armor, armed to the brim. I have been captured. Holy shit. My hands are tied above my head, and my feet are also bound together. I am going to be killed. Or worse. I hear a raspy voice that I have heard once before, back in District 12, and I arch my neck around to see the villainous Commander Romulus Thread standing behind me.

"Ah, good, the boy is awake. Men, grab him and follow me."

"What are you gonna do to me?" I ask cautiously, knowing my fate already.

He smiles, "I'm going to kill you. But not yet. Don't worry, you have a little while to appreciate the last few moments of your pathetic life."

"Fuck off," I respond instinctively. I know I told Katniss that I don't hate anyone, but in this moment I hate this man.

He grins devilishly and walks up close and puts his face not an inch away from mine. "That's not all I'm gonna do. I'm gonna hurt you, I'm gonna use you, and I'm gonna use your pain and suffering to make that pretty little girlfriend of yours experience agony beyond belief. And when she starts begging for your life, begging that I kill her rather than you... That's when I'm gonna kill you."

I am horrified. His sinister smile in reaction to my face signifies to me that he has won. We begin moving back in towards the city where gunshots continue to go off. One of his men hands Thread a megaphone, and as we are just outside the combat zone he turns it on and yells, "DISENGAGE!" And the gunshots subdue... It's coming. The Peacekeepers drag me into the front of their grouping and toss me to the ground so that I am on my knees. I hear Thread's voice again, "KATNISS EVERDEEN! I WANT YOUR ATTENTION!"

Katniss, please stay away. Please don't come near us. Don't fall for it. He's going to kill me anyway, don't let him kill you too. This is all that goes through my mind. I see the Rebels directly across the battlefield looking at me, I see sorrow and sadness in their eyes. They know what is going to happen as well as I do.

"PEETA!" I hear Katniss yell.

"Katniss don't come over here!" I shout back.

Then I feel the broad end of a shotgun barrel smash into the back of my head, and I fall into the dirt.

"Shut up boy!" Thread says to me, before he grabs me and pulls me back up to bring me to my knees. I see the rebel troops slowly moving closer, though it is clearly not to engage the Peacekeepers. It is to see what happens to me. They won't engage because they don't want them to kill me, but my fate is sealed. My heart drops as I see Katniss and Boggs approaching me along with the camera crew. The Peacekeepers do not fire. This is clearly part of their plan. Katniss closes in to grab me, but the Peacekeepers raise their guns at her. They do not shoot, but they indicate she cannot come any closer.

I hear Thread and his merciless laugh from behind me, "So predictable..." he says as we walks around me, holding his shotgun on his shoulder walking very casually. "You two have been a pain in my ass from the moment I first encountered you back in 12. And now I finally get my revenge."

I just want him to end it. Enough with the taunts, just do it. "Katniss, you need to go," I say. Again I get the shotgun smack, except this time it is to my face and I fall onto my back from the impact. I can taste the blood in my mouth. Two Peacekeepers shove me back up so that I am once more on my knees.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Thread bellows.

"NO! Leave him alone!" Katniss says, I can see tears streaming down her face.

His evil grins returns to his face. "No. No Ms. Everdeen, I will not leave him alone. I will do the exact opposite in fact. I am going to hurt him, so bad... I'm gonna make him suffer, so terribly... I am gonna to do this to him so that you will suffer. I am going to put him through pain, so that you will feel pain. I am going to break him, so that I can break you. And there is nothing you can do to stop me. There is nothing you can do to save him..." He trails off.

I can hear the whimpers from Katniss, and all I want is to hold her in my arms and tell her everything is going to be ok. But everything is not going to be ok. I know this, and so does she. "Katniss, it'll be fine. Just, get out of here."

One more time, Thread smacks me with the shotgun. "I TOLD YOU TO SHUT THE FUCK UP!" I am dazed. I'm pretty sure I can see stars. I am positive I can hear Katniss weeping. I can't believe that this is how it's going to end... "Stand up this pathetic excuse for a human," I hear Thread say, and two Peacekeepers stand me up and hold me for a moment while I gain my balance. I see Boggs move Katniss back a few feet even as she struggles to stay closer. "Ms. Everdeen, are you ready?"

"Just stop... Stop, please stop," she says. I look up at the sky, taking this moment in. This is the end. Just a few seconds go by and I hear a loud boom...

I have a ridiculous loud ringing in my ears that deafens me to the rest of the world. I glance down and see my left arm half has been blown off. I nod and smile, as I think to myself that this can't be real. It's hanging off by a few strings, like a zombie. This isn't real. I shake my head, then it hits me. Blood is flowing out of my arm, and I look up and see Thread holding the shotgun. He literally just shot off my arm. Well, not all the way off, but still... My arm is holding on by a thread... Commander Thread is not 10 feet away from me. I make eye contact with him, if he's gonna kill me, he's going to have to deal with it the rest of his miserable existence. He will have to watch the life drain out of my eyes.

My hearing returns to me, and I hear Katniss begging for him to stop. "PLEASE! Please! I'll do anything you want, ANYTHING! Just stop! Just don't kill him!"

Thread pays her no attention, but clearly relishes that he's getting a rise out of her. Her cocks the shotgun again, boom. I feel this one hit me on the side of my chest. He wasn't shooting to kill, but I am going to die. I can feel it. It must've punctured my lung, because I can't hold any air. I collapse to my knees. I am panting. I am bleeding everywhere.

I hear Katniss begging, "Please... Kill me instead. Let him live. Please..."

I am having trouble seeing at this point. Everything is blurry. I feel Thread reload the shotgun and place it right on my head. This is the the moment. He's going to end it. I take a deep breath, and as I come to accept my fate, I become glad at the thought that I'll be able to see my father and brothers again. I can't bring myself to look at Katniss one more time, because it will be all the more painful when it happens. But I have to. I have to see her beautiful gray eyes one more time. And I do, Thread does not rob me of this. Our eyes meet, and there is a moment of recognition. A moment of recognition that maybe the star-crossed lovers thing wasn't just a routine. It seems to be our destiny. But I see something, or someone, on the roof behind Katniss. I don't know who it is, but I see them with some kind of weapon. They are going to do something to change this, I can feel it. Maybe it's an angel. Whoever it is has given me a sliver of hope, and I'm not going to give up yet.

As Thread cocks the gun back one last time, I use the last bit of strength I have and use it to push the gun out of the way just as whoever that is on the roof fires right at Thread. The impact of both causes Thread to move the gun ever-so-slightly. Boom.

Katniss

"PEETA!" I shout as the shotgun goes off one more time.

But something has happened, Thread is now the one in pain, he has an arrow sticking out of his neck. Then another one hits him right in the chest. And one more, this one a fire tip, hits him square between the eyes. Romulus Thread screams in pain as his body is engulfed in majestic flames. Only one person I know other than me has that kind of pinpoint accuracy. Gale. I don't have time to see if I'm right, as the gunfire restarts, mainly firing in Gale's direction. I rush over to Peeta, as Boggs and the others give me cover fire. We drag him off to the side streets, and I see his face. It is very pale. I check for a pulse, and it's there, but it is so faint...

"Peeta, I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you," I say.

"We need to get the hell out of here, right now!" Boggs says behind me. But I don't care.

"Peeta, I'm sorry I didn't tell you how I feel about you," I weep. "I'm sorry I made you feel like I didn't love you..." I say desperately.

"What the fuck happened Boggs?" I hear Haymitch say on the headset.

"No time to explain! Peeta is in critical condition. We need the hovercraft here ASAP," Boggs exclaims, making this point urgently.

I grab Peeta's face and hold it tightly, "Peeta, I need you to come back to me. I need you to come back to me so that I can tell you I don't just need you... I love you," I sob into his increasingly lifeless body. "I do. I really do. I've been falling in love with you ever since that day all those years ago when you saved my life when you gave me the bread. I am great at hiding from my feelings, but I don't want to hide from them anymore," the tears running down my face are scalding hot. "I thought that our love was just something for the cameras, I thought it was just a stage thing. I thought it was something I could live without. But I was wrong. I can't." I feel the tears searing my face as they stream down. "I need you Peeta. I need your love. I might be the symbol of hope to the Rebels, but you are my symbol of hope. You are my inspiration for a better tomorrow. I can't lose you Peeta... So please Peeta, please come back to me! Please Peeta, open your eyes..."

Peeta

I am dead. I am sure of it. I am watching myself from a 3rd person, out of body perspective. Katniss has dragged my body off to the side streets, and I can hear what she is saying to me. I am so sad. I am so sad that I will not be able to rejoin her. I am so sad that I cannot embrace her and make her feel better. I am so sad that I cannot comfort her. I am so sad that I cannot open my eyes. I want to scream out to the heavens asking why this had to happen to me... To us. Then everything goes black.

I'm gone, I tell myself.

Then I hear a voice in my head, No.

No what? I ask.

No. You are not gone, the voice tells me.

Really? I ask.

The voice doesn't answer my question, Whatever you do, don't fall asleep.

Fall asleep? I thought I'm dead! I say.

Fight it. I hear it say. Open your eyes Peeta.

How can I? I ask in frustration. I'm dead!

You're not dead. Just open your eyes Peeta. Could it be that simple? Open your eyes Peeta...

'Huuuuhhhh,' is the sound I make as I take a deep breath. And I open my eyes. I'm on a hovercraft. Or am I? Am I dead? No, the voice told me I'm not dead. I blink, and I fight to keep my eyes open. I fight to keep myself from falling asleep. My eyes are open. I look to my right, and I see the eyes that I so desperately wanted to see. The beautiful gray eyes of the people from the seam. The eyes of Katniss Everdeen. Her eyes are drenched in tears, but I make out a smile appearing on her face.

"Peeta?" She asks me cautiously.

I smile weakly in return, "Hey. It's ok, I'm here."

I am still very weak and very confused, but I feel her climb into the bed with me. She holds my good hand, and cuddles up next to me. Quietly, I say to her. "I don't know how I made it. I don't know where I found the strength, but I'm alive. I'm here for you."

She sits up and kisses me softly, before leaning back and saying, "Sssshhh, don't worry. Just rest. There will be plenty of time to talk later. Just rest..."

She's right. There will be plenty to talk about later, and I should just rest. But still, I can't shake the realization of how close I was to death. How close I was to being gone. Yet something pulled me back. As I stroke Katniss' hair gently, all I can think about is just how very close I was to death...

Please let me know what you think! Was it too over the top? Not enough? Just right? Let me know...