Sorry for not updating in a while, but here it. WARNING: Some loving in this chapter…

Fiery First Night

I walk along the path to the Victors Village. The wind blows hard, causing my hair to blow with it. Wind blows some withered leaves around on the floor. I pull the scarf around my neck up to my cold nose. My eyes wander around the town, which is empty and suspiciously quiet at this time. No one is outside, absolutely no one. It's the afternoon, and usually, everyone in town is busy at the time. But today, it's as quiet and melancholy as it never was before. I keep making my way down, strolling around, and just looking for fresh air, even if it's cold.

Peeta and I have already moved in together, just today. He's been quiet, watching me carefully because he doesn't still understand that I don't any problem, or any reason, to be uncomfortable moving in with him. I've been walking around town, thinking. Prim hasn't been having nightmares lately, and it lifts a weight off my shoulders. Peeta has been being himself lately. And Gale…He's been great. Better than all of us, actually. He and Madge have been happy together, and he actually smiles around her. Things are looking up for all of us. It's like warm rays of sunshine bursting through a cold and mean night. Darkness is engulfed by a brighter light than what we've been experiencing. Prim's time and focus all goes to brushing a paint brush on a canvas or stroking a pencil onto paper. Gale spends designing even bigger things. Apparently, the Victors are required to have a special talent, one that no one has seen. Peeta, Prim, and Gale are all fine, but I'm not.

I have no talent; it's as simple as that. I spend my days thinking, thinking about how things are going to go for us later. Peeta says I'm always looking for danger, and then frantically trying so much to avoid it, that I bump right into it. After considering it, I try to get my mind off of the future. But how can I? I want to know that we'll be safe, but understanding the fact that as long as the Capitol remains in power, leading Panem into more destruction and hate, and the fact that we're now Victors, pushes me to think. Thinking is the only place of peace for me, but unwittingly, it drags me back to nightmares, to the games. We won't ever be completely safe, and I know that, but then I wonder to myself that maybe if I just let it go, it won't bother me.

I have nothing to help me let it go. There's nothing to help me out of it, but something tells me I'm missing something. I just don't know what it is. Somehow, everyone has managed to circumvent the dreadful thoughts about being Victors. I just can't seem to be that optimistic. Haymitch drinks, but that's just to get his mind off things and I can't possibly bring myself to drink because it's nothing that I would ever think possible. And while everyone else has something to get there mind off dreadful memories, I don't. The only thing I can push myself to do is to think, think about how I should stop thinking.

I no longer have the woods. The woods are no longer there to comfort me in a way where I can feel new and free. While everyone covers up the tough reality, I stay in it, trying to destroy it. Along with the thoughts of the Capitol, comes more anger and sadness. I blame them for the nightmares Prim occasionally has to suffer through, the furiously done paintings by Peeta, and Gale's fear of bringing Madge into his life. There is no one else to blame but the Capitol. They did this to the people I love, and even if mother doesn't say a word when Prim wakes up yelling, I know she's hurting in the inside. The way her eyes keep losing that hopeful shine in them, the way she takes deep breaths before deciding to talk to either one of us, it all indicates how she's losing all the strength in her.

Making my way to my new home, I turn my head to look at the few people who just came out of a store, rushing to get home. The silence bothers me greatly. Something's wrong. But, I'm pushing it. I need to relax myself. I walk even slower now, as if trying to avoid any trouble that waits in the Victors Village. Trying to avoid problems isn't wise, but at a time like this, I can afford to be unwise.

The night sky is taking over early, since winter is nearly here. The sky grows darker quickly as I walk up the steps to my new home. I reach for the cold doorknob slowly, trying to keep my breath from quickening. I ask myself why I'm acting this way. I was fine with it before, but now, it just seems a little too rushed. It only leaves me thinking about Prim and her nightmares. Mother can't stand getting near her because she starts to cry every time Prim wakes up screaming. She'd probably let her scream. I hate the thought, and that is what makes me hesitant to open this door fully. But what is waiting for me at the other side of this door makes that worry fade. It really shouldn't bother me so much, especially because he's everything to me. Shouldn't I be happy? I'm so apprehensive about everything that I don't realize what's good for me. Him.

Creaking slightly, the door finally opens. I take one step inside, and almost immediately, my heart stops. This is where I'm going to be living as long as the Capitol wants. It's the exact way the house that used to be mine was. I blink, trying to stop tears that I didn't realize were forming. Everything seems to pile on top of me at the moment. What will the Capitol demand from us now? What will they force us to do? Stop it, I tell myself, just stop it.

I hear shuffling from upstairs. They sound more like footsteps now that they get clearer to hear. Once I see a pair of feet coming down the stairs, my eyes meet with his blue ones. His hands are stained with a green and blue. He's been painting, angrily. It only makes me a lot more hopeless that this could work. But if I'm doing this for the reason that is to keep those who I love safe, than I'm determined to make this work. Plus, it's Peeta. It'd definitely work.

I find myself running into his arms, laying my head on his chest while he wraps his arms around me. The rising and falling of his chest reminds me that he's still here. He is still here to be a shoulder I can cry on. He is still here to lead me into a better mood with his convincing and comforting words. I snuggle closer to him as he holds me tighter. Placing a kiss on my forehead, he whispers, "You okay?"

There's no other respond. "Better than okay," I reply, burying my face into his chest. I lift my head up to look at him.

"You sure?" He asks, doubtful.

I roll my eyes, "Peeta, yes, yes I am okay. In fact, I'm superior," I say, sounding sarcastic and annoyed. I didn't want to be either, and it doesn't convince Peeta either anyway. "Peeta," I sigh, "I have no problem moving in together. Besides," I slightly smile and whisper, "I get to spend more time with you."

His blue eyes look right into mine. Soon, my lips are against his. His lips feel soft and sweet, but soon if feels like fire. Those soft kisses are soon rough and more passionate. I wrap my arms around his neck, standing on my toes to be able to reach his lips. I find myself wanting more and more. I run my hand through his hair as he softly bites my lip. I can't control myself, it feels so good.

I'm against the closed door in a room, with Peeta's body close to mine, very close. His lips meet mine repeatedly, each time more passionate and hungrily. My legs are wrapped around his waist as I run my hands through his blond, soft hair. Heat engulfs my body as he presses me harder against the door. His lips travel down my neck as he guides me to the bed.

My mind feels as if fog has clouded my thoughts. I feel Peeta's hands on my body, and it only takes that to keep me from thinking straight. He's gentle with every touch. It feels as if fire is surrounding us, the good fire. The fire that only appears and starts sparks when Peeta's near me. I can feel Peeta on top of me, and he tries his best not to put all his weight on me. Every time he places a kiss on my neck and shoulders, I can just swear there's fire surrounding me. It takes me a while to notice that he has taken my shirt off. No matter what he does, I can't find the thoughts. Those thoughts are far away. They won't hit me until the morning.

I shudder as his hands move down from my hips to my thighs. I move my hands from his back to the collar of his shirt, pulling at it. He helps me remove his shirt as he places passionate kisses on my lips, leaving me wanting more. When his hands land on the buttons on my pants and he removes my pants slowly, I can't stop that bothersome feeling. Do I really want to do this? My heart beats faster as seconds go by with his kisses and the touch of his hands. Part of me is in alert, but a huge part of me has no intention in stopping it.

And with that, I let that fog cloud up my mind, and I only think of Peeta all through the night.

I wake up, the sun's rays hitting me right in the face. My eyes feel hard. All I want to do is to shut them, and fall back asleep. I look over to my side, to find the spot where Peeta was empty. The memories of last night hit me like a piercing bullet through the chest. I don't regret it; in fact, the memory causes a smile to form on my face as I bury my face into the soft pillow. I can still feel Peeta's gentle hands on my body as his kisses love me down. I hear the bathroom door open as a blond hair boy comes in with wet hair and only a towel around his waist. I close my eyes quickly, acting as if I was asleep. When he turns to open the dresser, I turn my head to look at him. The water on his glistening skin shines brightly by the sun. His strong arms and his wet hair cause me to bite my lip.

Completely forgetting the fact that there's a mirror he can see me through, I get up from the bed. Apparently that's not the only thing I forgot. I forgot I'm completely naked.

I hear him laugh as I blush furiously, grabbing the sheets from the bed, and wrapping them around me. He turns around, his blue eyes meeting mine. He walks towards me; every step he takes, my heart beats faster. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he whispers in my ear, "You're beautiful, Katniss."

Heat reddens my cheeks as he leans down to kiss me. I can feel him smile during the kiss as I wrap my arms around his neck.

"I love you," he says, looking into my eyes with those beautiful blue eyes that I melt every time he looks as me.

"I love you too," I say, and for the first time, I stop thinking about bad things. I finally found something to get me to stop worrying. And it's not only Peeta. It's Prim, Gale, and for every reason I allow the Capitol to keep putting bothersome thoughts in my mind. But those thoughts will no longer be in my mind.

We'll get through this.

Together.

Thanks for reading. Review please! =)