Music and the Beast

Summary: Caught up in a ruse to stay away from her past, top talent manager, Katniss Hawthorne wasn't one for music or romance. But maybe, there might just be someone to bring the music back into her life. Implied K/C, K/G, but ultimately K/P.

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance

Chapter Length: 6, 676 words

Warnings: UN-BETAed OMG. Puke-y Haymitch, Monkey Johanna and Awkward Massages.

Like always. I'd like to say thanks to all those who reviewed last chapter! And so many of you added this and my other story to their alerts and favorites list too! OMGBananas yay!

A big thanks to my anonymous reviewers whom I couldn't thank personally, Victors' Secret, GIFtoJPG, Cannoli, KinnaFatniss, Tigris and Anonymous.

Congratulations also to those who answered the Reader Pop Quiz correctly in their reviews and got a chance to see an extended preview of this chapter, Kel-Vampyre, SciFiChik, 7, scoco, Skouli, DandelionOnFire, Kamil the Awesome, Nilrecurring, CorpseBandit and Lost Gray Soul. Scroll down to see the rest of the chapter you haven't already read (or read from the start to see some non-major revisions I've made).

So I'm aware this chapter is later than it usually is. I'm working on two stories now (I am so very inspired lately), but at the same time I'm also very busy with some commissions for art and graphics so I have multiple deadlines to meet. Plus, I'm getting ready for my trip to Hong Kong two weeks from now, so I've got a lot on my mind. x( Sorry you had to put up with my tardiness. Rawr.

Anyway, enjoy the read!

Chapter 7: Reunions

"What is that?" Peeta asked as Katniss flipped the book closed and cradled it in her arms possessively.

"It's a book my family used to work on." She answered, her eyes glazed in nostalgia as she smiled. She was happy to have found something so precious. She had almost forgotten it existed, and had it not been for Peeta reminding her, she probably would have never even thought to look for it. "It started out as just newspaper clippings of when my dad got interviewed, and then photos of the band and cover art concepts, but then my dad started using it as his personal song book." She lifted the book up to her lips placing a small kiss on it. "He'd try to teach me and Prim how to read music and write lyrics on it." She laughed. "I think some of my old compositions are still in here actually."

"Oh really now?" Peeta raised his brows at her. "So what exactly did little Katniss have to write about in her music? It must have been very inspired. I'd like to have a look myself." He reached out for the book teasingly, not actually intending to take it but just to gauge her reaction.

She withdrew from him quickly with a look of utter shock on her face which only piqued Peeta's interest in the book further.

"Now you've got to show me." He laughed, but she just playfully stuck her tongue out at him.

"You'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands."

Peeta raised his hands up at her in mock surrender, giving in and settling into the couch as he watched Katniss caress the book's cover on her lap. She had finally started opening up to him. Silently Peeta wondered if that would change if she knew that he was the man from that night.

He shook his head and tried not to think about it.

After a lot of convincing on Peeta's part, Katniss had reluctantly agreed to give him his first look at what they had simply taken to calling The Book. She had taken care to meticulously peek at each page before turning it, making sure nothing embarrassing or compromising was on the other side. Peeta found Katniss' shyness about her childhood cute and endearing.

It was definitely a relic to the Everdeen Family, and each page held mementos and tokens of achievements and milestones. Peeta found a song about Katniss' first steps particularly interesting and had to hold her hand down to prevent her from turning the page.

They sat there in silence, admiring Joseph's work and attention to detail for hours. Some of his songs even drew parallels in time to major historical events in history, even those before Katniss was born – the assassination of John Lennon, the Chernobyl nuclear accident, the Tiananmen Square Massacre,the fall of the Berlin Wall, the freedom of Nelson Mandela, the Cold War, the Rwandan Genocide, various advancements in science and genetics, even Joseph's humorous encounters with dealing with the internet. You name it, he wrote about it. All up until the year 2000 when it all just came to a stop.

Peeta had assumed this was when the problems had started, but despite that, the man was amazing.

When Haymitch came in a few hours later it was bordering midnight and the day had been a busy one. He had with him a box filled with what looked to be the band's old scraps.

"Any luck finding anything?" Katniss called from her seat on the couch and Haymitch just grunted in reply, obviously not very pleased with his haul. Katniss laughed. "Don't worry. I don't think we'll need it anyway."

He carelessly placed the box on the dining table which was now covered in boxes of similar nature dug up from the garage. The rest of the band's equipment now sat in random places in the living room, awaiting professional hands to set them up at the studio which was now being repainted and sound-proofed as they sat there.

Haymitch sat down with the two who were now going for their third round of The Book, carefully taping bookmarks on pages they thought were relevant.

"Looks like the Undersees came through." Haymitch gestured with his thumb back to the studio where the wealthy family's employees had begun their work restoring the studio.

"Madge'll be here tomorrow morning to help set up."Prim sat herself down on the arm of the couch and crossed her arms proudly as it was her idea to get them to help in the first place. "She really misses you, Katniss."

Katniss just smiled at the thought of her old friend coming over. She was looking forward to it, now that she was at terms with her past.

"Now what was it that you were all so eager to show me?" Haymitch tipped his head to the side and narrowed his eyes at the book Peeta and Katniss were now so obsessed with.

"This." She placed the book on Haymitch's lap and allowed him to flip through the pages she bookmarked, each page lighting a brighter glint in his eyes.

"That bastard." Haymitch laughed as he read through a song retelling the bittersweet life of a musician on tour away from his family. "All this time he said he had writers' block and he was just scribblin' away on this thing, wasn't he? No wonder our songs turned to shit." He was very fond of self-deprecating humor. He then turned the page to reveal a page Peeta hadn't seen, probably because Katniss avoided showing it to him. "Well lookie here." He smiled and Katniss had to scoot over to see what he was grinning at. "Looks like Joe wasn't the only inspired writer in the family." He teased.

Before Katniss could do anything Haymitch stood up and held the book out of her reach. "Haymitch, gimme that!" She jumped up and down in vain as Haymitch towered over her, reading her lyrics out loud.

Peeta thought it was all so juvenile and shook his head at the sight, exchanging glances with Prim at how immature the two were acting. And yet he still couldn't push back the feeling of curiosity behind the words Haymitch was now reading out loud. They weren't actually half bad. Soon enough, he found himself standing up and easily reaching for the book Haymitch held high above his head, but still within Peeta's reach. Taking it into his own possession and pacing around the room quick enough to avoid snatching hands, he read through the rest of the song.

"Katniss, did you really write these?" He scanned the words, as well as the notes messily written on them, chords and progressions scattering the pages. Katniss ran after him and took the book from his hands.

"Yeah, okay, I get it. I know they're bad." She huffed angrily as she sat down and clasped the spine of the book in her hands.

"Calm down, sweetheart. We didn't say that." Haymitch laughed, obviously as surprised with her hidden skill as Peeta was. "In fact, they're pretty good."

"Yeah!" Peeta nodded in agreement, taking his place by her side once again. He was glad Haymitch agreed because the girl beside him seriously needed an ego boost.

She gave them a shadow of a smile. "You really think so?"

"Maybe we can even include them in the album." Peeta offered.

"Woah there. Slow down now, cowboy." Haymitch raised his brow at the boy. "I didn't say they were that good."

'Well so much for an ego boost.' Peeta thought as the smile on Katniss face immediately vanished, a disappointed frown taking its place.

"Well don't look at me like that, sweetheart. I'm not sayin' 'ya ain't got potential." Haymitch walked around the room looking for something. "S'just that you wrote those songs when you were, what? Fifteen?" He found an old notebook on a shelf above the TV and dusted it off. "You were young, and your experience was-" he searched for the word, "-limited."

He walked over to Katniss and handed her the notebook. "But you've grown up since then." He told her confidently. "Bread boy's got a point. The album isn't just about Joe. It's about what he was to us as well, and you're his daughter for Pete's sake. It's only right you got at least one song in there."

Katniss looked up at him questioningly when she found the notebook he handed her was blank.

"I'd like to see how much you've grown since then. Show me what 'ya got." His voice was challenging with an underlying tone of love. "Write us a song. If it's good, it's in. If it isn't, we'll never speak of this moment again."

Peeta glanced back and forth between the two, a silent battle seemingly being fought between their eyes, so much being communicated with not even a word. He could only guess what they were thinking about or what hidden meaning there was to their exchange.

In an effort to convince her, Prim offered up her own words of encouragement. "Come on Katniss, do it for dad. You know I'm rubbish with these kinds of things. And besides, you've got nothing to lose."

And she was right, she didn't have anything else to lose and whether her song turned out to be good or not, they had a handful of her father's to make up for it. She nodded to herself, determined.

"I'll do it."

"Well that settles it then." Haymitch gave her a good pat on the back before heading over to the guestroom, taking a stop only to grab the half-empty bottle of whisky that sat on the bar table. "Don't know 'bout you kids, but I'm beat. I'm off to bed. Y'all don't stay up too late."

Prim rolled her eyes at the man who obviously wasn't going to bed in a jiffy, but she shrugged taking comfort in the fact that at the very least he was reducing his alcohol intake. Normally he wouldn't stand for anything less than a full bottle or two. This project was bringing out the best in them, and she saw it most clearly in her sister who started animatedly discussing her ideas with the man beside her.

As she saw the two sitting side by side, she felt a little displaced, suddenly having to share her niche with Peeta. But being nineteen and not nearly as accustomed to the business as he was, she couldn't help but be happy for her sister. She finally had someone her age to confide in other than Gale.

Not that she had anything against Gale explicitly. In fact, if it weren't for him, her sister would probably not even be alive. But the thing was, she could say the exact same thing about Peeta.

The two were as different as night and day. Peeta, she noticed, was more open and free with his words, genuinely himself whenever he was around them despite not even knowing them for very long. He was bold, candid and from what she could gather, selfless. Why else would he risk his life for her sister back then, and even now bring her all the way out to the country to her family after her sudden breakdown without knowing the full details of her issues? He obviously held his principles and ideals close to his heart and she doubted he would give them up so easily. Also, he trusted far too easily, she decided, already seeing the glints of affection budding in his small interactions with her sister.

Gale on the other hand had known Katniss since childhood, and Prim found it hard to tell if his affection for her was real or purely out of habit. There was once a time she could imagine her sister marrying him and living happily, but when he all too readily ran away with her without so much as trying to convince her to stay, her respect for him had withered into nothing. Katniss was not his to snatch away from her family at such a young age and in such a vulnerable state. It was all she could do to get up and convince her father to try and get her back. Prim would be lying if she said that she didn't partially blame Gale for the vices Katniss had cultivated when she was younger, but he was also the one that gave her a fresh start after their father's death, albeit not in the methods she would have preferred. Prim wondered if Gale truly loved her sister, or if it was guilt that motivated his actions. He was difficult to read, and very slow to trust other people with any type of personal information.

Peeta, she had come to like in a day, but Gale, she had barely come to tolerate upon losing respect for him after all these years.

And then there was Katniss. Even with guys lining up and crawling all over each other to try to get her attention, she was as oblivious as a rock. Even now, as she let the walls she had come to build around her crumble, she was still so clueless and Prim wondered if she would get herself hurt because of it. That's why she was here. Katniss lived her entire life thinking she needed to protect Prim, but over the years, it had been Prim watching out for her. Prim found comfort and consolation in considering herself a silent martyr, because that was what she was. She would always be there for her sister, making sure that she'd catch her if she fell, and probably maim the one to cause her fall.

She was snapped out of her reverie when Katniss had asked her a question that she hadn't managed to catch. "I'm sorry, what'd you say?"

"I asked if Johanna got back to you on the offer." Katniss repeated, trying to sound nonchalant about it, but failing. She obviously cared about the woman's reply and looking at how she was on edge at the question, Prim presumed she really did want Johanna on the project.

"She picked up the first time, but the second I mentioned your name, she hung up." Prim wore an apologetic look on her face, sincerely upset that things hadn't turned out as planned. "I called up her boss though, and he says her shift's early tomorrow. We could always try then?" She offered.

Katniss' face was sad, but Prim could tell that she wasn't giving up. "She'll just have to see how desperate I am." Katniss laughed. "She'll pity me so much she'll have to say yes."

Prim smiled when she saw Peeta put an arm around her sister consolingly, and she beamed when her sister leaned into him, actually accepting the comforting embrace. Whether Katniss knew or not, things were changing. In more ways than one.

"She's not here." Prim said over the phone after she had made her way over to the music shop Johanna had been working at to find the girl had not even come to work. She was now face to face with the manager, as surprised as she was at Johanna's absence, that is, not surprised at all. Johanna was more perceptive than people gave her credit for. That, or she had slept in as she usually did. "I'll try catching her at her house. You guys stay put."

Katniss hung up the phone in a huff and paced back and forth around the living room.

"Relax Kat, Johanna's probably at home, and nobody can say no to Prim. Believe me, I've tried. For nineteen years, I've tried." A dirty-blonde-haired woman now sat on the couch, occupying its entire length with her legs as she flipped through channels on the TV.

"You're right, Madge." Katniss managed to let out, as frazzled as she was, her braid coming apart in sections and tiny strands of hair sticking out from her relentless toying with it. "I should just concentrate on what I can do right now, and that's prepping for the song production. Oh wait! I can't, because the studio isn't even set up yet!"

Katniss was obviously exasperated, but Madge couldn't help but laugh at her childhood friend's bouts with stress. "I know, I'm sorry, but how the heck was I supposed to know all your father's stuff was ancient." She looked around at the equipment in mock disgust. "The only one who knows how to set all this up without it crumbling into dust in its antiquity is my dad, and he won't be here until this afternoon, so you're better off relaxing for now."

Katniss sat herself down on the couch stiffly, giving in to her friend's recommendation and barely missing Madge's legs as she sat down.

"Ouch, watch the legs Everdeen." Madge laughed. "Are all you Hollywood music producers this high-strung?" She asked teasingly and Katniss granted her an easy laugh until she continued. "Gale was exactly the same way when he came by the auto shop a few weeks ago."

Katniss furrowed her brow at Madge's words. "Gale drove all the way here? What for?" That was something totally unexpected, as she had thought Gale had severed all ties with this town after everything that happened. He barely even called home anymore. What would he be doing at the Undersees' car shop?

"I actually have no idea." Madge sat up, surprised at how alarmed Katniss sounded. "He didn't even bother to say hi. Just went straight for my dad and asked for sales records from way back when. Pretty rude if you asked me."

"Do you happen to know if he stopped by here when he was in town?" She hoped he hadn't. That would mean he had in fact been working with Snow for longer than she thought. She gulped, waiting for Madge to answer.

"I really don't know. He just got up and left once he got the documents. Didn't think I had any obligation to follow him." Madge now wore a concerned look on her face. "What's going on?"

"I don't even know anymore, but as far as I know, Gale really isn't on our side." Katniss just sunk deeper into the couch.

"Is that why he isn't here with you guys?" Madge asked, not really expecting an answer, and when she found she was right, she just scooted closer to Katniss and gave her friend a backrub that always seemed to help her in stressful situations. "Well, for what it's worth, I'm here for you. And I happen to give the best backrubs ever."

Katniss laughed as she adjusted herself so Madge was at a better angle to work on the knots she had worked up after endless hours of work and sleeping in awkward positions, what with all that's happened. "A little lower. Yeah, that's the spot."

"God Katniss, stop making those noises. They freak me out." Despite that, Madge did as she was told. It was times like this that made Katniss miss her old life, and she was thankful Madge didn't resent her for leaving like she did all those years back.

It was when Madge kneaded a particularly stubborn knot in Katniss' back and solicited from her a less-than-innocent sounding moan of approval that Peeta by chance walked in on the two girls, fresh from a long slumber after two straight days without sleep.

His eyes widened at the sight and the sound Katniss was unconsciously making and he made silent steps to backtrack out of the room before he was caught in his awkward position. He was seconds too late.

"Oh, hey there! You must be Peeta!" Madge greeted him happily, still tending to her friend's back until Katniss jumped off the couch and straightened herself out, surprised at the sudden intrusion. "You have to excuse Katniss. She gets extra into my massages when she's stressed." Madge bore an intentionally seductive tone so as to tease Katniss and she was rewarded when her friend slapped her arm. Katniss' face was now beet red, but nowhere near as red as Peeta's was at this moment.

"Hey." Katniss let out as she played with the hem of the baggy sweater she now wore, obviously embarrassed at what Peeta had just witnessed. "How was your sleep?"

"Uneventful." What could he say? 'I dreamt about you the whole time' would be coming on a little too strong despite it being true. He had dreamt about Katniss, alongside the car crash and all the painstaking details of her father's last few words. It was more of a nightmare than anything, but hey, sleep was sleep and seeing her now somehow made him feel better about it. "I just got up to tell you Haymitch sort of soiled the carpet with his throw-up."

'Wow, awesome segue, Peeta. Genius.' He thought to himself. He could see Katniss' friend keeling over in laughter.

"I tried cleaning some of it up, but I'm afraid it might have left a permanent stain." 'Okay Peeta, shut the fuck up now. This is not helping in the slightest.'

Katniss just smiled as she felt for the poor man put on the spot. Madge was terrible when it came to making people feel comfortable. "It's fine Peeta. It's not like we haven't had to deal with it before." She made her way to the pantry to take out a spray bottle of their family's own special mix of detergents that came in handy when Haymitch was around. "I'll be right back." She turned to Madge as she made her way to the room with a pair of rubber gloves and a rag. "And Madge, play nice."

When Katniss left, Peeta awkwardly made his way to the kitchen in the pretense of looking for something to eat, when in fact, he just did not want to be left in the same room with Katniss' somewhat imposing friend. But it was a futile effort as her eyes followed him, still visible from the bar nook that separated the living room, dining room and kitchen. "So Katniss tells me you arrange music and that you're a huge Mockingjay fanboy."

Well look at that, she was trying to make conversation.

"Well yeah, but I think it runs a bit deeper than that." 'Way, deeper.' He thought as he poured himself some coffee and prepared some toast.

"So you like her." Madge hit the nail on the head with her guess and had Peeta stammering to recover as he spilt some of his coffee on the nook. He just didn't have much luck with coffee these days, did he?

"Of course not. Pssh." He grabbed some paper towels and began dabbing at the puddle of coffee that was now dripping down the nook onto the floor. "Shit."

Madge laughed. "I was kidding, calm down." She walked over and helped him with the mess. "Though I wouldn't be surprised if you did. Everybody falls in love with Kat at one point or another. She just has that effect on people. Heck even I had a girl crush on her when I was younger."

Peeta looked at her incredulously.

Madge shot her hands up in defense. "But not anymore." She continued. "Most people snap out of it after awhile if they can help it."

Peeta gulped. That was the problem. Could he help it?

The ring of the doorbell sounded just as Peeta was about to speak and Madge nodded for him to answer. "You get it, I'll deal with the mess."

Peeta nodded and made his way to the door, opening it to reveal an angry looking girl with short dark spiky hair.

"Where is she?" She asked, her voice furious. Peeta had no idea who this girl was or why the hell she was so angry.

"Excuse me?" was all he managed to let out before she shoved past him and invited herself in.

"Where is she!" She asked louder this time and Madge ran over to see what all the commotion was about.

"Johanna!" Madge was about to run up and hug the girl but the look on her face told her that probably wouldn't be such a good idea right about now.

"Katniss, where is she?" Johanna turned to the taller blonde as if she would bite her head off if she didn't come up with an answer.

"She's in the guestroom, what're you doing-" Johanna stomped her way into the hallway until Katniss came out of the room and cut her off.

"Jo! What're you doing here?" Katniss couldn't get the rest of her words out because Johanna ran right up to her and started shaking her by the shoulders. Peeta had it in him to pry the petite girl away from Katniss until she let out her next words, stopping him.

"You bitch!" She shook the taller girl repeatedly, not nearly hard enough to cause permanent damage but enough to disorient Katniss thoroughly. "You leave all of a sudden and don't call me for seven fucking years and then yesterday I get a call from your sister, your fucking sister, telling me you were back in town." She started crying uncontrollably. "You couldn't have even called me yourself, you fucking bitch. You didn't even come over to say hi." She trailed off.

It took Peeta a while to process that this girl used the word 'bitch' as a term of endearment. How sweet.

"Hi?" Was all Katniss could muster after Johanna's long dialogue, dizzy from all the shaking.

"I waited the entire night, and nothing. Why didn't you tell me you were coming back!" Johanna now withdrew her hands from Katniss' shoulders and wrapped them fully around the startled girl capturing her in an embrace. "You stupid, stupid girl."

"I missed you too Jo." Katniss smiled as she returned the embrace. "Glad to see you haven't changed a bit."

"Yep, still as foul-mouthed as ever." Madge snorted.

"Shut up." Johanna rubbed Katniss' cheek against hers affectionately, cherishing their reunion. "You smell like vomit."

Katniss pushed the girl away and examined herself. "Er, yeah. Haymitch had a bit of an accident. Had to deal with his mess. Excuse me while I properly incinerate this pair of gloves." She laughed as she dumped the gloves into the garbage and washed her hands vigorously.

"That old coot's here again?" Johanna's face contorted into an expression of disgust. "Why?"

"Didn't Prim tell you about it over the phone?"

"Nope." Johanna allowed herself a seat and Madge closed the still open door, leaving Peeta to absorb what had just happened. Women were weird. "Slammed the receiver down before she could get anything out." Madge glared at her. "What?" Johanna flung her hands up in defense. "I was mad, okay?"

"Well looks like we have a lot of catching up to do then." Katniss took a seat beside her and slung an arm around her shoulder.

"No way. No way in hell, Kat." Johanna was now standing up on the coffee table feeling as though if they had caught her, she'd have to participate against her will. "I left that behind me years ago. I know I was your band mate and all back then, but after you went loopy, I set myself straight. I'm not going back there."

"I've set myself straight too Jo. We're not making you go back there." Johanna's worries were ridiculous and Katniss realized that if there was one thing that Johanna took away from their reckless childhood phases, it was paranoia. "Will you at least get off the table?" Katniss pleaded, trying to urge her off the antique piece of furniture. As disoriented as her mother may have been, she did not enjoy people stepping on her furniture. It was a miracle Haymitch still lived to tell the tale after he'd ruined so much of it already. "We just need a drummer."

After an entire hour of relating their entire ordeal with Snow and the commotion they had caused, it frustrated Peeta to see that Johanna was showing no signs of willingness to cooperate. "I'll be in the other room trying to wake Haymitch up to talk some sense into this girl. Call me if Monkey Girl ever leaves her perch." Peeta waved her off and headed out.

"Whatever, bread boy." She shouted back at him; Johanna thought she was so clever.

"Wow, like I haven't heard that one before." He laughed and shot Katniss a sympathetic look. Her friends were crazy. Katniss returned his smile and then turned her attention back to Johanna.

"Jo, this isn't about you, me, or the old band anymore." She softened her tone at the girl she considered to be her older sister. "You have no idea how much it's taken for me to work up the courage to finally do something to redeem him. Between all the blackmail and bitterness Snow's put me through, this is the one thing in my life that makes me feel like it's actually worth living." Katniss heaved a heavy sigh. "It's for him Jo."

Johanna stood quiet as she stared down at the girl who seemed to have grown up a lot since their time together as band mates. She searched Katniss' face for any trace of the irresponsible teen she had come to know her as over the years, but she found none. In its place she found the face of a mature woman wanting to fix the mistakes she had undoubtedly accumulated and Johanna was suddenly moved to envy at the younger girl's resilience. It seemed she had actually gotten a hold over her dark past, something Johanna was merely striving to do each day.

Johanna weighed her options inside her head. She had been searching for something meaningful to do with her life and at the same time a means to vent out her anger and frustrations. The music shop didn't give her any of that. No one there seemed to appreciate her expertise with percussion and the customers didn't respond too well to loud deafening beats. She ended up just living her life drifting with no purpose.

Being in a band was really all she had then, and she guessed, even now. And she would be lying if she said she didn't have a soft spot for old Joseph Everdeen, the man who had gotten her into drums in the first place. She was practically his third daughter, more of a son really, and she owed the man just as much as she owed his daughter in front of him. Joining in their efforts would be a step towards progress, she decided, and if Katniss could do it, she could too.

She stepped off the table and extended her hand out to Katniss who looked puzzled at her gesture. "Well shake my hand, brainless." She smirked as the old nickname left her lips.

Katniss' face let out an expression of unadulterated excitement as she took her friend's hand in hers and shook it. "Does this mean you're in?"

"As in as I'll ever get." Johanna laughed and pulled the girl toward her for a hug. "If anybody asks, you had to drag me through hell and back just to get me to agree." She whispered jokingly into the taller girl's ear.

Katniss just laughed, shooting Madge an accomplished smile once they had broken their embrace.

"Well look at that, looks like we didn't need you after all." Peeta walked back into the room with a very grumpy looking Haymitch trailing behind him, obviously unhappy at being woken up. "What'd you do, bribe her with bananas?" He asked Katniss. Johanna returned Peeta's humor with her tongue sticking out at him playfully.

"I didn't think Haymitch's horrible sense of humor was contagious." Katniss quipped in Johanna's defense, effectively countering his statement as she skipped into the kitchen happily at the recent turn of events.

"Oh don't make me bring up the day we met, Katniss." Peeta threatened playfully as he followed her lead. "I still have that blank check, you know."

"Don't you dare." Katniss raised a threatening finger at him.

Madge and Johanna just exchanged confused glances as they surveyed the two in front of them, now bickering like an old married couple. Johanna raised her brow at Madge questioningly, as if asking if there was something between the two, but Madge just shrugged. It was certainly interesting to watch the two though, and so they did.

Peeta laughed heartily at the memory that he threatened Katniss with. It was truly ridiculous how Katniss had reacted that day and Peeta couldn't help but think back at the moment. He realized he didn't actually find her unattractive when he first saw her, frazzled and begging for him not to sue. To be completely honest with himself, he was actually stunned when he saw her walking up to him – she was beautiful – enough to cause him to readily forgive the infraction on the spot, really. But Katniss had beaten him to it, even going so far as offering him some Tylenol for possible head trauma. He still had that too.

And then when he saw her at the studio the next day, his reaction hadn't been purely out of animosity. In fact, when he first found out that she was working on the project, initially he'd actually been eager, tempted to see if it could lead anywhere. But the mention of her name changed things, and after hearing that she was The Beast everybody at work was talking about, the rumors got the best of him. He shook his head at his rash actions.

Katniss Everdeen was more than what the rumors had made her out to be, just as Joseph was more than what the press made him out to be. She was many things to Peeta – The girl who had inadvertently run him over with her car, the daughter of his favorite musician, the girl who had caused him so much grief at the studio, the girl who was so vulnerable and weak against loud noises, and the girl he had saved that fateful night. He started to wonder as he watched the girl making herself busy in the kitchen if she could possibly even mean more to him than she already did. He ran a hand through his hair and exhaled loudly, letting out a forced laugh as all these thoughts rushed into his head in mere moments.

Katniss looked at him worriedly when he hadn't replied and was staring at her intently. "Peeta?"

Her voice snapped him out of it

He laughed it off. "It's nothing. I was just thinking how pretty you look when you're angry." He gave her his best seductive smile and she hit his arm playfully.

"Shut up."

"Will you two just get a fuckin' room?" Haymitch sat grouchily on the barstool he had now claimed for himself during the duration of their stay. "So fuckin' loud early in the morning." He rubbed his temples furiously at the hangover he sustained, not that he had drunk too much the night before. In fact, he had drunk significantly less. It was the combination of drinking and actual work that got to him.

"It's past eleven, Hay." Katniss walked over to him and handed him a cup of coffee to get the edge off and he took it willingly. She gave Peeta a shy smile which he returned as he moved to help her in the kitchen.

"Speaking of which, I should head out." Madge grabbed a piece of old toast before heading toward the door.

"Leaving so soon?" Johanna called out, disappointed that their little reunion had to be cut short.

"Have to pick dad up at twelve." She explained. "Maybe then we can probably get started setting these antiques you call sound equipment up. These damn Everdeens have got us all running around the place like mad men, so I guess I'll see 'ya then." She smiled as she gave them a salute before heading out.

"You are such a slave driver, Kat." Johanna blamed her for Madge's departure.

Katniss just rolled her eyes at the accusation and changed the topic. "Oh yeah, Prim went over to yours, Jo. Did you happen to see her?"

Johanna plopped on the seat next to Haymitch and shook her head. "Nope, went straight here after I woke up. Ditched work. She must've missed me by a few minutes." She shot the old man a smirk as she stole his cup of coffee right from under his nose. Haymitch's reflexes weren't the best in the morning, and he was far too tired to care. Instead, he gave her an angry growl.

Just then, Prim burst through the door, shutting it angrily behind her. "Jo's landlady is crazy. I'm never going back there again. You can't make me." She threw her backpack over her shoulder onto the couch before stopping at her tracks when she saw Johanna sitting comfortably at their table. "Oh, fuck you."

"So she swears now?" Johanna asked Katniss as she sipped Haymitch's coffee, half surprised that the sweet little girl she remembered from long ago was now old enough for such foul words to escape her mouth.

Before Katniss could answer, Prim answered on behalf of herself. "I'm nineteen." She emphasized, kicking her shoes off and decidedly walking barefoot into the kitchen.

Johanna just giggled at the younger Everdeen who was obviously annoyed that the person that she had been looking for the entire morning was here the whole time. "Didn't mean anything by it." Johanna assured her, lifting up her hand to a high-five when Prim was close enough. "I've taught you well."

Prim just gave her a baffled look before returning her high-five and sitting down for some toast. "Thanks, I guess?"

The phone rang just then, snapping everybody out of the very late breakfast they were having. When everybody just stared at it, nobody making a move to actually answered, glances were exchanged before a furious game of 'Not it' ensued.

"Not it!" Johanna shouted.

"Not it!" Katniss was only half a second behind, before Peeta followed suit.

"Not it!"

Even Haymitch had it in him to yell for his right not to answer the phone, despite his raging hangover. "Not it!"

And Prim was left, once again taking it upon herself to ask as the dutiful secretary. "You guys suck. You know I'm horrible at that game." She pouted, hesitating to leave her place in the kitchen.

"Oh will you just pick up the damn phone. It's drivin' me insane!" Haymitch waved her off as he continued to fight off his hangover by increasing the pressure against his temples.

"It must be Cinna. He should be back in L.A. by now." Katniss encouraged Prim as she watched her sister apologetically, wearing a face that said she'd make it up to her next time.

Prim walked dejectedly to the phone and answered it, only to return seconds later with a worried look on her face. "Kat? It's Rue. Sounds urgent."

"Rue?" Katniss dropped what she was doing and ran to the phone, holding the receiver gingerly in her hands before actually putting it up to her ear. "Rue, what is it? What's wrong?"

"Katniss! I'm so glad I caught you." Her voice sounded tired and frantic. "I tried calling your phone, but I couldn't reach it."

Katniss mentally slapped herself for forgetting to recharge it. She had been so busy, in between the press conference and songs and recruiting people for the band. "Oh god, I'm so sorry Rue, I didn't think. What happened? Why'd you need to reach me so bad?" Rue had been a more or less independent boarder at her flat. She'd held her own for weeks when Katniss had to go on business trips, so it was unusual for her to have to call after only a few days of her absence.

"The flat." Her voice came in sobs now. "They kicked me out. I've got nowhere to go Katniss."

Notes: It is 3:43 AM where I am right now and I am forcing myself to get this chapter ready for you guys, though it'll probably be late in the afternoon when I actually get access to the net. I am tired as EFF, and thus have had no chance to proofread this. PLEASE leave comments on any typos (I'm very sure there are hundreds, as this is un-BETAed).

So yeah, CLIFFHANGER! Well, not really, because you guys' get a preview of the next chapter anyway, haha. For people who don't know about the game 'Not it.' It happens very suddenly when you're with a group of people and somebody has to do something that nobody wants to do. So everybody tries to say 'Not it.' as fast as they can and the last person to say it ends up doing it. Just thought I'd clear that up for cultural purposes.

The entire "I'm nineteen" thing with Prim and her swearing is actually in relation to Josh Hutcherson's appearance on Punk'd. I was really surprised hearing him swear so openly, because in all the movies he's been in, he's always been a goody-two-shoes and I had to keep reminding myself that it's normal for nineteen-year-olds to swear. Haha.

Also, a big thanks to Lost Grey Soul who so kindly informed me of some music related things. For the record guys, I know nothing about instruments or the actual process of recording, and this is a learning experience for me. So if you guys see anything glaringly wrong with factual representations, just drop me a review or PM so I can fix it :)

Also, a few schedule changes. I update every two or three days. What I update, however, will be up to how fast I write for both my stories. I might update Learn to Fly twice in a row or switch back and forth between stories. And please don't worry if I get irregular with my updates. It just means I've had extra work laid upon me, but your reviews do help me work up the energy to get my updates in on time.

Now for the Reader Pop Quiz! You'll have two options today to get an EXTENDED PREVIEW of the next chapter:

1) answer the quiz: What two things did Peeta keep from the first day he met Katniss?

OR

2) leave a reply on the reviews on WHERE YOU LIVE and what TIMEZONE you guys live in. I really do want to know more about my readers.

Chapter 8: Fighting our Battles

Katniss' eyes widened. "What? How? When?"

"I don't know what happened, Kat." She scrambled for words to explain. "Woke up this morning to some loud knocking on the door, and next thing I know, some guys from your company are throwing me out of the apartment. They said I don't own it and that I was squatting illegally." The tone of her voice echoed her worry.

Katniss was speechless as her mind wrapped around who could've done this, and really there was only one who had the power to – Snow.

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ALSO CHECK OUT MY NEW FANFICTION, LEARN TO FLY. The first chapter after the prologue is now up!