Thank you everyone!

I hope y'all are having a wonderful Christmas Eve!

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Peeta is still watching Katniss, with his familiar squint while she watches the employee walk away from them as she talks in the radio. When she looks back at Peeta, her heart jumps from her chest to her throat when she sees the way he's looking at her—Duke's soft woof makes him jump, and she returns to the reality of them standing in a very busy airport. She forces a dry cough and asks, "What would be easier for you? If you hold on to my elbow, or if I hang on to yours?"

When the color in his face begins to turn pinker, her heart does the same strange little flip-flop it did when they were training. "Will you hold my hand?" His whisper finishes the job that his flush had started.

"I'll allow it." The self-assured smirk that she likes far more than she should makes an appearance. When she touches the top of his hand, he grabs onto hers. He then tangles his fingers with hers and her knees grow weak. She is able to recover when Duke stops suddenly.

Peeta gets a better grip on the dog's harness, and says, "Let's go, Duke."

Katniss can't help the pride that swells up in her heart then the dog looks around them, then takes a step forward, leading them into the ebb and flow of the people around them. "Have you been here before?"

"To Hartsfield?" She opens her mouth to answer, but he continues, "I used to live in Atlanta before I enlisted. Since I've been back, I'm still trying to find where I want to live. Home doesn't feel right anymore, but Atlanta doesn't either."

Katniss remembers back to their first days of training, when after a frustrating afternoon with Duke showing them how much of a pain he can be, he confessed that he was frustrated because he'd just gotten a call from his mother. The same one that he had told her just a day before that cussed him when she learned he had joined the Marines. Even told him not to come home. Didn't talk to him after that until he was sent home with bandages over his eyes.

His mother only talked to him then, because his father threatened to leave her if she didn't.

She blinks fast as tears try to escape. That was the first time he let his guard down, but the next day he was cool and reserved again. He only let himself relax in those moments when he thought it was only he and Duke and he didn't know she was watching him from the corner where he couldn't see her.

A squeeze snaps her back to the airport and his voice asks, "Where are we?"

"We are—" she lets her voice trail off as she looks for something to—"There, we are almost there. Do you want to grab something to eat before we board? I know it says that there is a meal, but you know that it's probably not that good."

"Did you get something?"

"I did."

"What's around us?"

"You can have either a hamburger, or a hamburger or a sub."

His chuckle reaches her ears and she can't help but to smile. Then she realizes that she's only heard that a couple of times before. Her heart sinks but she promises herself that she wants to make him laugh, more. Even before they land in London. "I think I want a sub," he says.

"It's the big red and green sign over there—"

Another squeeze, another thump-thump-flip. "I see it. Come on."

She wants to ask him so many things, but her heart soars instead. Something happened since she saw him last, and not for the first time, she wishes that she would have met him before he ever enlisted, or even while he served.

Is she seeing a glimpse of the man he once was?

Duke stops them several feet behind the last person in line. "Do you want me to read the menu, or go get one?"

"You can read it to me-" he whispers in her ear.

Thump-thump-flip.

Her inhale is sharp, and when she begins to recite the cold cuts, all she can hear is how shaky her voice is. "—mayo." She pauses for a moment so she can take a deep breath. "Did you get all that?"

"I did. I usually get the turkey, but you made everything sound so much better." He steps ahead of her, Duke leading him to the counter.

"Is he flirting with me?" She whispers to his back. The lady next to her meets her eyes with a raised brow. She offers a weak smile back. "Go ahead, I'm waiting for him."

"That's what it sounds like, Hon." The silver haired one leans in closer. "It does sound like he's flirting. Go for it, he's a tall drink of water, one that I'd love to have in my bed." She cracks a grin. "If I was a bit younger like you." Katniss can feel her face heat up while her new acquaintance moves into line with a chuckle.

"It sounds like you made a new friend," Peeta says as Duke leads him back to her.

Glad that he can't see the scowl on her face, she grunts, "Yeah she was a peach." She glances at him, and sees how his hands are full. "Can I help you?"

"Duke, stay," his command is soft as he lets go of the handle on the harness. "Will you put my sandwich in my bag? I'll get something to drink on the plane."

"That's a good idea," she says as she accepts his food. It's strange how this simple act of helping him makes her feel closer to him. As she zips his zipper closed, she says, "There you go."

He already has the handle back in his hand, and for some reason she can't help but to notice how white knuckled his grip is when he is holding out his hand—for hers. "Ready?"

Her eyes raise to meet his, and her heart does that ridiculous thump-thump- flip again as her silver ones meet his blues ones. Why does it feel like he can see me? "Yes, if you are," she says as she slides her hand over his again.

She tries to keep standing as even that little touch from him makes her knees buckle. Somehow, her legs work and they continue on their way to the gate. It doesn't take them as long as she wanted, so when she guides them to a row of seats, her heart sinks, already missing his touch. "Go ahead and sit. I need to go talk to the gate agent—" and to remember to breathe again. She admits to herself. She steps back giving Peeta room to stretch out his leg and she turns to go.

"Hey, Katniss?" His deep voice washes over her, touching every nerve.

"What Peeta?" She whispers back.

His smile falls, and it takes everything in her to not touch him. "Nothing, it's silly."

In that moment, she has to blink back tears. "No, tell me."

He fumbles with his bag, and even though she knows that she needs to let him do this, she wants to help him. He pulls out his boarding pass and offers it to her. "Will you see if there is any way for us to sit together?"

Thump-thump, there goes her heart flipping again as she accepts his ticket. "That's a good idea." He smiles, and she clears her throat. "You know, in case you need help with Duke or something."

His features straighten and even though it appears that he is trying to look solemn, there is still a hint of a smile.

Thump-thump-flip.

"Of course, to help with Duke." He does look serious for a moment. "And will you ask if there is any way we can take him out before we board?"

"That's a good idea. I'll be right back." She turns to walk away from him, and she could almost swear that she feels he is watching her.